N
The Daily Insight Hub

Why is the balance sheet the most important?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on January 02, 2026

The purpose of a balance sheet is to give interested parties an idea of the company’s financial position, in addition to displaying what the company owns and owes. It is important that all investors know how to use, analyze and read a balance sheet. A balance sheet may give insight or reason to invest in a stock.

What is difference between balance sheet and income statement?

The balance sheet reports assets, liabilities, and equity, while the income statement reports revenues and expenses that net to a profit or loss. They use the income statement to decide whether a business is generating a sufficient profit to pay off its liabilities.

Why is the balance sheet more important than the profit and loss?

A balance sheet provides both investors and creditors with a snapshot as to how effectively a company’s management uses its resources. A P&L statement provides information about whether a company can generate profit by increasing revenue, reducing costs, or both.

Is income a balance sheet?

The balance sheet displays what a company owns (assets) and owes (liabilities), as well as long-term investments. The income statement shows the financial health of a company and whether or not a company is profitable. Both revenue and expenses are monitored closely.

What is difference between trial balance and balance sheet?

The main difference between the trial balance and a balance sheet is that the trial balance lists the ending balance for every account, while the balance sheet may aggregate many ending account balances into each line item. The balance sheet is part of the core group of financial statements.

What is the purpose of a trial balance sheet?

The purpose of a trial balance is to ensure that all entries made into an organization’s general ledger are properly balanced. A trial balance lists the ending balance in each general ledger account. The total dollar amount of the debits and credits in each accounting entry are supposed to match.