Which method of cash flow reporting focuses solely on cash transactions?

The correct answer is the direct method of cash flow reporting, which focuses specifically on cash transactions that occur within a company. This method presents the cash inflows and outflows from operating activities directly, detailing sources of cash received from customers and cash paid to suppliers and employees.

By utilizing the direct method, companies provide a more straightforward view of their cash management and operational liquidity because it traces actual cash movements rather than adjustments based on accrual accounting. As a result, it provides more transparent information about cash sources and uses, making it easier for stakeholders to analyze cash flows.

In contrast, the indirect method begins with net income and adjusts it for non-cash items and changes in working capital. While both methods ultimately arrive at the same net cash flow from operating activities, the indirect method does not focus solely on actual cash transactions, which makes it distinct from the direct method. Historical and comparative analysis are also not methods of cash flow reporting; they are techniques used to analyze trends or performance over time but do not focus on cash transactions directly.