What financial metric assesses the profitability of a business over a specified period?

The Income Statement is the financial metric that assesses the profitability of a business over a specified period. This statement provides a summary of the revenues, costs, and expenses incurred during a specific period, usually a quarter or a year. It allows stakeholders to evaluate the company's ability to generate profit by showing the net income or net loss resulting from its operations. By analyzing the Income Statement, one can assess how effectively a company converts its revenues into profits after all expenses have been accounted for.

In contrast, the Balance Sheet outlines a company's financial position at a specific point in time, detailing assets, liabilities, and equity, but it does not directly measure profitability over a period. The Cash Flow Statement focuses on the actual inflows and outflows of cash, providing insights into liquidity and how well the company manages its cash, rather than its profitability. The Equity Statement relates to changes in equity within a specific period but does not provide an overview of profitability like the Income Statement does.