What term refers to cumulative earnings retained by a company and not paid out as dividends?

The term that refers to cumulative earnings retained by a company and not paid out as dividends is retained earnings. This represents the portion of a company's profit that is reinvested in the business or used to pay off debt rather than being distributed to shareholders as dividends. Retained earnings are reported on the balance sheet and reflect the company's ability to generate profits over time while also indicating how those profits are utilized.

This concept is fundamental in understanding how a company manages its resources and growth potential. By retaining earnings, a company can fund new projects, expand operations, or strengthen its financial position. Retained earnings are accumulated from the profits generated in previous periods, minus any dividends paid to shareholders.

The other options refer to different financial elements: common stock represents ownership in the company; net income is the profit earned over a specific period after expenses are deducted from revenues; and gross profit is the difference between sales revenue and the cost of goods sold, which does not account for other expenses. Each of these terms serves a distinct purpose within the financial statements, but only retained earnings specifically refers to the accumulation of profits not distributed as dividends.