Because financial statements are based on historical data, financial statement analysis is typically used only to evaluate an organization's past financial condition.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Primarily future projections
• D. Not determinable

Answer: (B)

Financial statement analysis uses historical data as a baseline to understand what has happened, but it also informs future planning and forecasting. By examining trends in revenue, margins, liquidity, and solvency, you can assess how well the organization has managed resources and then project future performance, cash flows, and financial needs. For example, a downward trend in profitability over several periods signals potential future risks to earnings, guiding budgeting and strategic decisions. Liquidity and leverage ratios drawn from past statements help estimate the organization’s ability to meet obligations going forward, not just in the present. So the analysis serves both retrospective evaluation and forward planning, making the statement incomplete or misleading.