Reading 25 - Understanding Balance Sheets Flashcards
Define the balance sheet
The balance sheet (also called the statement of financial position or statement of financial condition) provides users with information regarding a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time. It also provides insights into the future earnings capacity of the company as well as indications regarding expected cash flows.
Define assets
Assets are resources under a company’s control as a result of past transactions that are expected to generate future economic benefits for the company.
Define liabilities
Liabilities are a company’s obligations from previous transactions that are expected to result in outflows of economic benefits in the future.
Assets and liabilities may arise from business transactions (e.g., the purchase of a piece of equipment) or as a result of accrual accounting. As we saw in Reading 22, differences between the timing of revenue and expense recognition (based on accrual accounting) and the timing of related cash flows give rise to current assets and liabilities.
Assets and liabilities should only be recognized on the financial statements if it is probable that the future economic benefits associated with them will flow to or from the firm, and that the item’s cost or value can be measured with reliability.
Define equity
Equity represents the residual claim of shareholders on a company’s assets after deducting all liabilities. Other terms commonly used for shareholders’ equity include stockholders’ equity, net assets, and owners’ equity. Equity can be created as a result of operating activities (business transactions that yield operating profits) and financing activities (issuance of common stock).
The balance sheet provides useful information regarding a company’s financial position to both investors and lenders. However, balance sheet information should be interpreted carefully. Analysts should be careful not to view equity reported on the balance sheet as either the market or intrinsic value of a company’s net assets because of the following reasons:
- Under current accounting standards, measurement bases of different assets and liabilities may vary considerably. For example, some assets and liabilities may be measured at historical cost, while others may be measured at current value. These differences can have a significant impact on reported figures.
- The value of items reported on the balance sheet reflects their value at the end of the reporting period, which may not necessarily remain “current” at a later date.
- The balance sheet does not include qualitative factors (e.g., reputation, management skills, etc.) that have an important impact on the company’s future cash‐generating ability and therefore, its overall value.
List the alternative formats of balance sheet presentation.
Report format
Account format
Classified balance sheet
Liquidity-based presentation
For alternative formats of balance sheet presentation, describe report format.
Report format: Assets, liabilities, and equity are presented in a single column. This format is the most commonly used balance sheet presentation format.
For alternative formats of balance sheet presentation, describe account format.
Account format: Assets are presented on the left-hand side of the balance sheet, with liabilities and equity on the right-hand side.
For alternative formats of balance sheet presentation, describe classified balance sheet.
Classified balance sheet: Different types of assets and liabilities are grouped into subcategories to give a more effective overview of the company’s financial position. Classifications typically group assets and liabilities into their current and non-current portions.
For alternative formats of balance sheet presentation, describe liquidity-based presentation.
Liquidity‐based presentation: IFRS allows the preparation of a balance sheet using a liquidity‐based presentation format (rather than a current/non‐current format), if such a format provides more reliable and relevant information. In a liquidity‐based presentation, all assets and liabilities are broadly presented in order of liquidity. This format is typically used by banks.
For a company, liquidity refers to the company’s ability to meet short‐term cash requirements. For an individual asset, liquidity refers to how quickly the asset can be converted to cash at a price close to its fair market value.
On a standard balance sheet, what are the two main asset categories?
Current assets
Noncurrent assets
On a standard balance sheet, what are the three main liability and equity categories?
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Equity
On a standard balance sheet, what are the noncurrent assets sub categories?
Property, plant, and equipment
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
Non-current investments (subsidiaries)
What are the requirements by IFRS and U.S. GAAP for balance sheet presentation?
Both IFRS and U.S. GAAP require that assets and liabilities be grouped separately into their current and non‐current portions, which makes it easier for analysts to examine the company’s liquidity position as of the balance sheet date. However, it is not required that current assets be presented before non-current assets, or that current liabilities be presented before non-current liabilities (even though this is the case in Nexen’s balance sheet). Further, under IFRS, the current/non‐current classifications are not required if a liquidity‐based presentation provides more relevant and reliable information.
On a standard balance sheet, define current assets.
Current assets: These are liquid assets that are likely to be converted into cash or realized within one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer. The operating cycle is the average time taken by a company to convert the funds used to purchase inventory or raw materials into cash proceeds from sales to customers. Current assets may be listed in order of liquidity, with cash being the first item listed.
On a standard balance sheet, define non-current assets.
Non‐current assets (also known as long‐term or long‐life assets): These are less liquid assets and are not expected to be converted into cash within one year or within one operating cycle. They represent the infrastructure that the firm uses in its operations and other investments made from a strategic or long‐term perspective.
On a standard balance sheet, define current liabilities.
Current liabilities: These are obligations that are likely to be settled within one year or one operating cycle, whichever is longer. Specifically, a liability may be classified as a current liability if:
- It is expected to be settled in the entity’s normal operating cycle;
- It is primarily held for the purpose of trading;
- It is due to be settled within one year after the balance sheet date; or
- The entity does not have an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least one year after the balance sheet date.1
On a standard balance sheet, define non-current liabilities.
Non-current liabilities: These liabilities are not expected to be settled within a year or within one operating cycle. Non-current liabilities are a source of long‐term finance for a company.
On a standard balance sheet, define working capital.
Working capital: The difference between current assets and current liabilities is known as working capital. Working capital is necessary for the smooth functioning of a firm’s daily operations. Low working capital levels suggest that the company might be unable to meet its short‐term obligations. Excessively high levels of working capital indicate that the company is not utilizing its resources efficiently.
What are the problems analysts have in understanding individual assets and liabilities reported on the balance sheet?
Individual assets and liabilities are reported on the balance sheet using different measurement bases. The challenge for analysts lies in understanding how the reported values of assets and liabilities relate to economic reality and to each other. As stated previously, balance sheet values should not be assumed to be accurate measures of the value of a company. For example, land is usually presented at its historical cost. If prices have increased significantly since the date of acquisition, the total value of assets is understated on the balance sheet.
The balance sheet provides important information about the value of certain assets and information about expected future cash flows, but does not always accurately represent the value of the company as a whole.
On a standard balance sheet, what are the current assets sub categories?
Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Trade receivables
Inventories
Other current assets
What do accounting standards require for the presentation of current assets?
These are assets that can be liquidated or consumed by the company within one year, or one operating cycle, whichever is greater. Accounting standards require that certain specific line items must be shown on a balance sheet if they are material (e.g., cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, inventories, and financial assets [with short maturities]).
On a standard balance sheet, under current assets, define cash and cash equivalents.
Cash equivalents are highly liquid securities that usually mature in less than 90 days. Since they are so close to maturity, there is minimal risk of any change in their value due to changes in interest rates. Since cash equivalents are financial assets, they may be measured at amortized cost or fair value.
- Amortized cost equals historical cost adjusted for amortization and impairment.
- Fair value under IFRS equals the amount at which the asset can be exchanged in an arm’s length transaction between willing and informed parties. Under U.S. GAAP, fair value is based on exit price—the price received to sell an asset.
The amortized cost and fair values of cash equivalents are usually very similar.
On a standard balance sheet, under current assets, define marketable securities.
These are also financial assets and include investments in debt and equity securities that are traded on public markets. Their balance sheet values are based on market price.