The Financials tab on a company profile gives you the three core financial statements - the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement - with historical periods so you can spot trends. You reach it from any company profile at /app/{TICKER}/financials, for example /app/AAPL/financials. This guide explains what each statement tells you and how to read it quickly.
The three statements at a glance
| Statement | Answers the question | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Income statement | Is the company profitable? | Revenue growth, margins, net income |
| Balance sheet | Is it financially healthy? | Cash, debt, equity |
| Cash flow | Does it generate real cash? | Operating cash flow, free cash flow |
Reading the income statement
The income statement shows revenue down to net income over a period. Read it top to bottom:
- Revenue - is the top line growing year over year?
- Gross profit and gross margin - how much is left after the cost of goods sold?
- Operating income - profitability after running the business.
- Net income - the bottom line after interest and taxes.
Example: if revenue rises but net income falls, check whether costs or one-time items are compressing margins, then confirm the story in the latest 10-Q.
Reading the balance sheet
The balance sheet is a snapshot at a point in time. A quick health check:
- Cash and equivalents versus total debt - can the company cover obligations?
- Current assets versus current liabilities - short-term liquidity.
- Shareholder equity - what is left for owners after liabilities.
Reading the cash flow statement
Cash flow separates accounting profit from actual cash:
- Operating cash flow - cash generated by the core business.
- Investing cash flow - capital expenditures and acquisitions.
- Financing cash flow - debt, buybacks, and dividends.
Free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) is a useful gauge of how much cash the business can return or reinvest.
Comparing periods and companies
Use the historical columns to compare quarters or years and identify trends rather than reading a single period in isolation. To compare two companies side by side, open each profile's Financials tab, or ask AI Chat: attach both tickers and ask for a revenue and margin comparison.
Pull the same data via API
Everything on this tab is also available programmatically. Developers can retrieve financial statements through the REST API under the Fundamentals endpoints, which is handy for spreadsheets and models.