[1] Year-to-date is used in various contexts to record the results of an activity from the beginning of the year up to the present day.
In finance, YTD figures are often included in financial statements to detail the performance of a business entity.
Providing YTD results for the current year, as well as for one or more past years as of the same date, allows owners, managers, investors, and other stakeholders to compare the company's current performance with that of previous periods.
Comparing YTD measures can be misleading if only a small portion of the year has elapsed or if the date is not clear.
In contrast, measures like the 12-month ending (or year-ending) are less affected by seasonal influences.