Why does North Data show earnings in Germany even when no income statement is published?

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:

  • As a separate item in the equity section, e.g. “net income/net loss,”

  • 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.