Question

Why do companies publish more than the current year's data on their financial reports?

Answer 1

One year financial data is not sufficient to discover or disclose the financial performance trend of the company. To make the financial users understandable about the performance trend of the company , it is desirable to publish current year financial results with previous year's details.

Comparative analysing and trend analysis are the most prominent tools for taking financial decision-making . To do comparative analysis and trend analysis, one year financial details is of no use . All the publicly traded  companies publish current year financial results with at aleast a single previous year financial results . Some reputed companies are also showing current year's financial data with a series of financial data related with different preceding years to make the comparison most effective.