Financial statement analysis is typically used to evaluate past financial condition.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. For forecasting only
• D. Not specified

Answer: (B)

Interpreting financial statements combines looking at what happened in the past with using that information to plan for the future. Analyzing historical data—trends in revenue, expenses, liquidity, and profitability—helps you understand how the organization has performed and where weaknesses or risks lie. But it doesn’t stop there: the same analyses feed forward into forecasting future performance, budgeting, capital planning, and assessing financing needs. In healthcare finance, you’d use past results to project future cash flow, reimbursement changes, and debt capacity, adjusting for known shifts in payer mix, regulatory environments, or patient volumes. So while historical evaluation is a core part of financial statement analysis, the goal also includes anticipating future results, making the statement false. It’s not limited to forecasting only, nor left unspecified.