What visualization would be inappropriate for analyzing cumulative impacts of financial factors?

A ribbon chart might not be the best choice for analyzing cumulative impacts of financial factors because it is specifically designed to show how data categories change over time and the relationships between them. Ribbon charts are most effective for visualizing flows or proportions among categories for multiple dimensions, rather than aggregating values to illustrate cumulative totals.

In contrast, other options like waterfall charts effectively demonstrate cumulative changes and sequential contributions of financial factors, showing how values add up or change over a timeline. Line charts are well-suited for observing trends and cumulative totals over time, while bar charts can illustrate comparative values effectively, although they are not primarily designed for cumulative analysis. Thus, the ribbon chart’s focus on the dynamics between categories rather than their cumulative sums makes it less appropriate for this specific analytical purpose.