The process of analyzing a company's financial performance over time is known as?

Trend analysis is the correct choice because it specifically involves examining a company's financial performance over a period of time to identify patterns, trends, or movements. This technique enables analysts and stakeholders to understand how various financial metrics, such as revenue, expenses, and profits, evolve over different time frames. By identifying upward or downward trends, businesses can make informed decisions regarding their strategies and operations.

Financial modeling involves creating abstract models to represent a company's financial performance based on current data and assumptions, rather than solely focusing on historical performance over time. Comparative analysis often refers to evaluating a company's performance against other companies or benchmarks at a single point in time, rather than observing how it has changed over a timeline. Budgeting relates to the process of planning future income and expenses without necessarily analyzing historical performance patterns. Therefore, trend analysis is the most appropriate term for the process described in the question.