Balance Sheet quiz

The three elements of a balance sheet are assets, liabilities, and equity.

The statement of changes in equity shows a firm's comprehensive income (net income and other comprehensive income) and transactions with shareholders, such as dividends paid and issuance or repurchases of stock. Repayment of bond principal is not a change in equity : assets (cash) decrease and liabilities (long-term debt) decrease.

Classified balance sheets have categories for current assets, non-current assets, current liabilities, and non-current liabilities.

A classified balance sheet groups together similar items (e.g., current and noncurrent assets and liabilities) to arrive at significant subtotals .

Common-size balance sheets for the two firms are as follows :

Working capital (current assets minus current liabilities) is 32.4% – 6.5% = 25.9% of assets for Amplus and 26.1% – 5.7% = 20.4% of assets for Brevis. Fixed assets (property, plant, and equipment) are relatively larger for Brevis than for Amplus. Based on long-term borrowing and total liabilities, Brevis is significantly more leveraged than Amplus.

Shares that were issued previously but are not outstanding are treasury shares (owned by the firm). Thus, there are 600,000 treasury shares (2.4 million issued – 1.8 million outstanding). Treasury shares are reported as a reduction in shareholders' equity on the balance sheet. Treasury stock is not an asset.

An analyst can use the balance sheet to assess a firm's solvency and liquidity.

Operating profitability can be assessed by examining the income statement.

Information on a firm's investing and financing activities appears in a firm's statement of cash flows.

The trading securities classification includes the unrealized gain from the bond in net income, which increases retained earnings. Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities are reported as other comprehensive income for the period and are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, a component of owner's equity. Unrealized gains on held-to-maturity securities are not reported on the financial statements .

As of December 31, 2023, Carpenter's accumulated other comprehensive income is $515,000 [$450,000 beginning balance – $25,000 unrealized loss from available for sale securities ($225,000 fair value – $250,000 cost) + $90,000 unrealized translation gain]. There is no impact on accumulated other comprehensive income from unrealized gains and losses on held-to-maturity securities since the securities are not reported at fair value on the balance sheet. The purchase of treasury stock does not affect comprehensive income because it is a transaction with shareholders.

Operating cycle = days of inventory + days of receivables, and is the number of days that it takes to turn raw materials into cash from sales .

The current ratio, quick ratio, and cash ratio measure liquidity. Debt-to-equity, the total debt ratio, and the financial leverage ratio measure solvency.

Goodwill is measured at historical cost and is not amortized. Goodwill must be tested for impairment at least annually and written down to fair value if it is impaired.

Inventories are required to be valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value (or “market” under U.S. GAAP). FIFO and average cost are two of the inventory cost flow assumptions among which a firm has a choice .

IFRS permits either the cost model or the revaluation model for property, plant, and equipment.

Repurchased stock that is not cancelled is called treasury stock. Treasury stock does not have voting rights and does not receive cash dividends .

On a common-size balance sheet, each line item is stated as a percentage of total assets : 2,000 / 10,000 = 20% .

Estimated income taxes for the current year are likely reported as a current liability. To recognize the warranty expense, it must be probable, not just possible. Recognizing impairment of PP&E does not create a liability.

An asset is recognized on the balance sheet only if it is probable that it will provide future economic benefits. Assets can be tangible or intangible. In some cases, assets are acquired without cost, but will be reported to the extent that they will provide future economic benefit, and thus have value.

Total stockholders’ equity consists of common stock of $550,000, preferred stock of $175,000, retained earnings of $893,000, and accumulated other comprehensive income of $46,000, for a total of $1,664,000. The $30,000 unrealized gain from the investment in Beta is already included in accumulated other comprehensive income.

Listed equity securities are measured at fair value through profit and loss, unless the firm chooses at the time of purchase to measure them at fair value through other comprehensive income. Debt securities issued by the firm, and debt securities that the firm intends to hold until maturity, are both reported at amortized cost unless the firm chooses to report them at market value.

Assets are resources that are expected to provide future benefits and are controlled as a result of past transactions. Liabilities are obligations resulting from past events that are expected to require a future outflow of resources. Equity is a residual interest in assets after deducting liabilities.

The market value of the firm's common equity (common stock) is not included on the balance sheet. IFRS allows some PP&E assets to be carried at fair value and some types of inventory to be carried at their market values .

Unrealized gains and losses from trading securities are recognized in the income statement while unrealized gains and losses from available-for-sale securities bypass the income statement and are reported as other comprehensive income, a component of stockholders' equity. Cash dividends are recognized in the income statement for both trading and available-for-sale securities. Thus, Alpha will recognize only the $2,000 dividend if the shares are considered available-for-sale and will recognize $22,000 ($2,000 dividend + $20,000 unrealized gain) if the shares are considered trading securities.

Dividends received from trading securities and available-for-sale securities are recognized in the income statement. The difference in trading and available-for-sale classifications relates to the treatment of any unrealized gains and losses.

Liabilities are equal to $3,790 million ($240 million unearned revenue + $1,570 long term debt + $1,150 accounts payable + $830 accrued expenses). Stockholders' equity is equal to $3,420 million ($30 common stock at par + $440 capital in excess of par – $2,000 treasury stock + $5,160 retained earnings – $210 accumulated other comprehensive loss).

Banks often present liquidity-based balance sheets, which list all assets and liabilities in order of liquidity, because for banks this format is typically more relevant and reliable than a classified balance sheet. Firms in most other industries typically present classified balance sheets .

A classified balance sheet groups assets and liabilities by subcategories. It distinguishes between current and noncurrent assets and current and noncurrent liabilities. The assets and related liabilities are reported separately, they are not netted.

Current ratio = (CA / CL) = (1,660 / 550) = 3.018

The accrual process refers to accounting for transactions when revenue or expense recognition does not coincide with the exchange of cash. Accounts receivable, for example, represent sales of goods and services that have been recognized as revenue, but for which the firm has not yet been paid cash. Cash equivalents are highly liquid marketable securities, such as Treasury bills, in which a firm typically invests its short-term cash balances.

Unless impairment has been recognized, land is reported at historical cost and is not subject to depreciation. Increases in value are not reflected in balance sheet values under U.S. GAAP.