How does Google ensure clarity, consistency, and comparability in their financial statements across different periods?

The requirement of financial statements in annual 10-K filings to the SEC greatly enhances the transparency of a company like Tesla. These statements provide a comprehensive overview of the company's financial health, including its assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses. They are designed to ensure clarity, consistency, and comparability across different periods and entities, making them a credible way to present a company's performance. This allows investors, analysts, and the public to make informed decisions about the company's financial stability and future prospects.

Some alternative methods to the three financial statements model for presenting a company's performance could include the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which are specific metrics related to different aspects of a business. These could be operational metrics, customer metrics, or financial metrics that are not typically included in the financial statements. Another alternative could be the use of a Balanced Scorecard, which presents a more holistic view of an organization's performance by considering financial and non-financial measures. Additionally, some companies may use a dashboard to visually present data and performance metrics.