# Read live and closing stock valuation

**Console: Reports → Stock valuation.** **Right now** is a live view of recorded
on-hand quantities and costs. A closed period's **Closing stock** is a frozen
snapshot, labelled with its date and close context.

Check **By place**, **By category**, and item quantity, average cost, and value.
Uncategorised items need classification review. A **Not counted at close**
warning identifies places absent from that close's total; do not report the
snapshot as covering every location without checking it.

A live quantity or value can differ from a frozen close because of subsequent
movements. Correct current records through their supported workflows; do not
assume that refresh changes the closed snapshot. See
[Month end](/reports/month-end) for close controls.

## Compare locations

For a multi-location business, **Reports → Cross-location** shows stock across
sites and offers **Compare Locations**. Choose the same period and review
purchases, waste, COGS, food-cost variance, inventory value, and count coverage.

An outlier is a prompt to investigate, not proof that a manager caused a loss.
Check site demand, units, costs, missing counts, and received data before
comparing figures. A single-location business does not need this view to read
its own stock.

Share exports within authorised business access. Escalate with selected live or
closed scope, period, location, item/unit, coverage warning, and exact error.