Which financial statement would best show the results of a company's operations over a specific time period?

The income statement is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a company’s revenues and expenses over a specific time period, typically a quarter or a year. This report illustrates how much money the company earned (revenues) and how much it spent (expenses), ultimately resulting in the net income or loss for that period. This information is vital for assessing the operational performance of a company, as it allows stakeholders to evaluate profitability, analyze cost structures, and make informed decisions about the business's future direction.

In contrast, the balance sheet presents a snapshot of the company's financial position at a specific point in time, detailing assets, liabilities, and equity but does not reflect operational performance over a period. The cash flow statement focuses on the inflows and outflows of cash, providing insights into liquidity and cash management rather than operational results. The statement of retained earnings displays how net income and dividends affect retained earnings over time, but it does not break down revenue and expenses in detail, making it less suitable for assessing operational performance directly.