The financial year is the period over which a company measures its performance. It can but does not have to correspond to a calendar year. At the end of the financial year the company will prepare its <a title="Annual Report" href="https://quoteddata.com/glossary/annual-report/">annual report </a>to shareholders. All <a title="Quoted" href="https://quoteddata.com/glossary/quoted-2/">quoted</a> companies also have to prepare <a title="Interim report or half-year report" href="https://quoteddata.com/glossary/interim-report-halfyear-report/">interim reports </a>and companies <a title="Listed" href="https://quoteddata.com/glossary/listed-2/">listed</a> on the <a title="Main market" href="https://quoteddata.com/glossary/main-market/">main  market </a>currently have to publish quarterly reports as well. A company may change its financial year end and so, from time-to-time and especially when a company is new, the company may report on a period longer or shorter than 12 months so, when comparing one financial period to the next, remember to check you are comparing like with like.