Citing Financial Statements: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

When researching and writing about topics related to finance, it is important to use reliable sources and cite those sources accurately. Financial statements are often used as sources of information in research papers and other documents related to finance. However, citing financial statements can be difficult due to the various formats and citation styles that are used. This article will provide an overview of the different types of financial statements, the different citation styles used for financial statements, the different sources of financial statements, examples of financial statement citations and tips on how to easily cite financial statements.

Outlining the Different Types of Financial Statements and How to Cite Each Type

Financial statements are documents that report the financial activities and position of a company or organization. There are four main types of financial statements: balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements and statement of changes in equity. The balance sheet provides an overview of the company’s assets, liabilities and equity. The income statement provides an overview of the company’s revenues and expenses. The cash flow statement provides an overview of the company’s inflows and outflows of cash. The statement of changes in equity provides an overview of the company’s changes in equity over a certain period of time. All of these financial statements can be cited using the same basic format.

In addition to the four main types of financial statements, there are also notes to the financial statements. These notes provide additional information related to the financial statements, such as accounting policies and assumptions. The format of the citation for the notes to the financial statements is slightly different than the format for the four main types of financial statements.

Explaining the Different Citation Styles Used for Financial Statements

There are three main citation styles used for financial statements: APA (American Psychological Association), Harvard and MLA (Modern Language Association). The APA style uses the author-date format for citing sources. For example, the citation for a balance sheet would be: (Company Name, Year). The Harvard style also uses the author-date format, but the date is placed at the end of the citation. For example, the citation for a balance sheet would be: Company Name (Year). The MLA style uses the author-page number format for citing sources. For example, the citation for a balance sheet would be: Company Name, p. xx.

Examining Different Sources of Financial Statements and How to Cite Them

Financial statements can be found in a variety of sources. Online resources, such as financial databases, are one of the most common sources of financial statements. When citing financial statements from online resources, it is important to include the URL of the source in the citation. Company websites are another common source of financial statements. When citing financial statements from company websites, it is important to include the name of the company in the citation. Government sources, such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission, are another source of financial statements. When citing financial statements from government sources, it is important to include the name of the government agency in the citation.

Providing Examples of Financial Statement Citations

Below are some examples of financial statement citations using the three main citation styles:

APA: Apple Inc. (2020). Balance sheet [Data file]. Retrieved from https://investor.apple.com/financials/balance-sheet/default.aspx

Harvard: Apple Inc. (2020) Income statement. Retrieved from https://investor.apple.com/financials/income-statement/default.aspx

MLA: Apple Inc., Cash flow statement, p. 1. Retrieved from https://investor.apple.com/financials/cash-flow/default.aspx

Highlighting the Benefits of Properly Citing Financial Statements

There are several benefits to properly citing financial statements. First, it improves the accuracy of research by providing an accurate reference for the source of the financial statement. Second, it increases the credibility of sources by providing evidence that the source is reliable. Finally, it makes it easier to reference sources by allowing readers to quickly find the source of the financial statement.

Offering Tips on How to Easily Cite Financial Statements

Citing financial statements does not have to be difficult. Here are some tips on how to easily cite financial statements:

• Use online citation tools: There are many online citation tools available that can help you easily create citations for financial statements. These tools are especially helpful if you are unfamiliar with the different citation styles.
• Double check your citations: Before submitting your paper, make sure to double check your citations to ensure they are accurate and complete.
• Review examples of correctly cited financial statements: Reviewing examples of correctly cited financial statements can help you understand how to properly cite financial statements.

Conclusion

Citing financial statements can be a complex process due to the various formats and citation styles that are used. However, this article has provided an overview of the different types of financial statements, the different citation styles used for financial statements, the different sources of financial statements, examples of financial statement citations and tips on how to easily cite financial statements. By understanding the different types of financial statements, citation styles, sources and examples, as well as utilizing online citation tools and double checking your citations, you can ensure that your financial statement citations are accurate and complete.

For further reading on citing financial statements, please see the following resources: APA Style Guide, Harvard Style Guide and MLA Style Guide.