quarter

A quarter refers to a three-month period within a year, often used in business and finance to organize financial reporting and analysis. There are four quarters in a year: January-March (Q1), April-June (Q2), July-September (Q3), and October-December (Q4). Companies report their earnings, expenses, and profits for each quarter, providing a timely snapshot of performance. Quarters help stakeholders understand short-term trends, track progress, and compare results over time. Essentially, a quarter is a standardized way to divide the year into manageable parts for better planning, analysis, and reporting.