This article explains, why North Data displays net income (earnings) even if no income statement is included in the published financial statements – and why these figures are not estimates.
In some cases, North Data displays earnings even though the company has not published a full income statement.
This is neither an error nor an estimate, but is based on the legal disclosure requirements in Germany.
Background: Disclosure requirements under German law
The scope of financial information a company must disclose in Germany depends on its legal form and size.
Small corporations are permitted to publish abbreviated annual financial statements according to § 276 of the German Commercial Code (HGB).
These shortened versions often include the balance sheet only – without an income statement.
However, even in these cases, the law requires certain key figures to be disclosed – particularly the net income or net loss as part of the equity section on the liabilities side of the balance sheet.
Where do the earnings figures come from?
Even without a full income statement, net income is usually visible in the balance sheet – either:
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As a separate item in the equity section, e.g. “net income/net loss,”
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Or derived from changes in equity, often identifiable through a comparison with previous years or through internal line items.
North Data extracts this information directly from the published balance sheet, typically disclosed via the German Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger).
Important: These are not estimated values
The earnings figures displayed are not estimates or projections. They are based on legally required and officially published figures.
So, even in the absence of a detailed income statement, the reported earning is a reliable and traceable figure.