What is the purpose of a cash flow statement?

The purpose of a cash flow statement is to provide information about a company's inflows and outflows of cash over a period. This statement is essential for understanding how a company generates and uses cash, which is critical for its ongoing operations and financial health.

Cash flow statements categorize cash activities into three main sections: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. By examining these activities, stakeholders can assess the company's liquidity, solvency, and overall financial stability. It helps investors, creditors, and management to make informed decisions about the company's ability to meet short-term liabilities and fund its operations or growth.

The other choices do not accurately capture the primary purpose of a cash flow statement. Summarizing equity and liabilities pertains to the balance sheet, recording all transactions relates to the general ledger, and assessing profitability is the focus of the income statement. Each of these serves a different purpose within the financial statements, highlighting why option B is the correct choice in this context.