What type of financial statement would show a company’s revenue and expenses over a specific period?

Prepare for the CPA Financial Reporting exam with detailed multiple-choice questions, flashcards, and comprehensive explanations. Equip yourself with insights and strategies for success!

The income statement is the financial statement designed specifically to show a company’s revenues and expenses over a specific period, typically a quarter or a year. It provides a detailed breakdown of how much money the company earned (revenues) and how much it spent (expenses) during that timeframe, ultimately leading to the calculation of net income or loss. This statement is crucial for assessing a company's operational performance, as it highlights profitability and helps stakeholders determine how well the company is managing its resources relative to its income generation.

In contrast, the balance sheet provides a snapshot of the company's assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time, which does not reflect the performance over a period. The statement of cash flows focuses on the inflows and outflows of cash and cash equivalents, helping to understand liquidity rather than profitability over the defined period. Lastly, the statement of retained earnings summarizes changes in retained earnings over a specific interval, but it does not detail revenues and expenses directly. Thus, the income statement is the correct choice when looking for a document that highlights financial performance over time.

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