This book, first published in 1977 and reissued in 1990, examines one of the most familiar aspects of accountancy – that of company financial reporting. Assessing the view that shareholders have little time for financial reports, this book presents the findings from a research project analysing whether or not shareholders understand financial reports; what they do and don't understand; their use of financial reports; the type of shareholders who have the most, and least, understanding and who make most, and least, use of financial reports.