Earnings are the financial benefits of the operations of a company. Earnings per share (EPS) is the measure of earnings made by the company divided by the outstanding shares of common stock or preferred stock. For a detailed analysis of certain aspects of corporate operations, other more specific terms such as EBIT and EBITDA are frequently used.

Earnings in the United States are usually reported on the basis of gross sales or the gross profit. The gross profit is usually reported to investors during the last year or, if there are years included, on the last fiscal year. Many companies use other methods of computing earnings like gross value minus sales, gross value minus expenses, and net income less expenses. Net income is the difference between gross profits and net income.

Earnings are measured by net earnings and net income. The gross profit and net profit are not necessarily the same. In the United States a company normally reports its net earnings only once a year at the end of its financial year. Many companies do not prepare their income statements on a yearly basis. In some cases companies have reported their net earnings for several consecutive years. necessary for short-term financing needs. Cash Flow should be calculated by adding all sources of cash flow including dividends to equity. This will provide a better picture of the health of the corporate earnings and credit ratings.