you learned that a balance sheet presents a snapshot of a company’s fi nancial position at a point in time. It lists individual asset, liability, and stockholders’ equity items. However, to improve users’ understanding of a company’s fi nancial position, companies often use a classifi ed balance sheet instead. A classifi ed balance sheet groups together similar assets and similar liabilities, using a number of standard classifi cations and sections. This is useful because items within a group have similar economic characteristics. A classifi ed balance sheet generally contains the standard classifi cations listed in Illustration 2-1.
CURRENT ASSETS
Current assets are assets that a company expects to convert to cash or use up within one year or its operating cycle, whichever is longer. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation had current assets of $22,100. For most businesses, the cutoff for classifi cation as current assets is one year from the balance sheet date. For example, accounts receivable are current assets because the company will collect them and convert them to cash within one year. Supplies is a current asset because the company expects to use the supplies in operations within one year.
These groupings help fi nancial statement readers determine such things as (1) whether the company has enough assets to pay its debts as they come due, and (2) the claims of short- and long-term creditors on the company’s total assets. Many of these groupings can be seen in the balance sheet of Franklin Corporation shown in Illustration 2-2 on the next page. In the sections that follow, we explain each of these groupings.
Some companies use a period longer than one year to classify assets and liabilities as current because they have an operating cycle longer than one year. The operating cycle of a company is the average time required to go from cash to cash in producing revenue—to purchase inventory, sell it on account, and then collect cash from customers. For most businesses, this cycle takes less than a year, so they use a one-year cutoff. But for some businesses, such as vineyards or airplane manufacturers, this period may be longer than a year. Except where noted, we will assume that companies use one year to determine whether an asset or liability is current or long-term. Common types of current assets are (1) cash, (2) investments (such as shortterm U.S. government securities), (3) receivables (accounts receivable, notes receivable, and interest receivable), (4) inventories, and (5) prepaid expenses (insurance and supplies). Companies list current assets in the order in which they expect to convert them into cash. Follow this rule when doing your homework.
Current assets are assets that a company expects to convert to cash or use up within one year or its operating cycle, whichever is longer. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation had current assets of $22,100. For most businesses, the cutoff for classifi cation as current assets is one year from the balance sheet date. For example, accounts receivable are current assets because the company will collect them and convert them to cash within one year. Supplies is a current asset because the company expects to use the supplies in operations within one year.
These groupings help fi nancial statement readers determine such things as (1) whether the company has enough assets to pay its debts as they come due, and (2) the claims of short- and long-term creditors on the company’s total assets. Many of these groupings can be seen in the balance sheet of Franklin Corporation shown in Illustration 2-2 on the next page. In the sections that follow, we explain each of these groupings.
Some companies use a period longer than one year to classify assets and liabilities as current because they have an operating cycle longer than one year. The operating cycle of a company is the average time required to go from cash to cash in producing revenue—to purchase inventory, sell it on account, and then collect cash from customers. For most businesses, this cycle takes less than a year, so they use a one-year cutoff. But for some businesses, such as vineyards or airplane manufacturers, this period may be longer than a year. Except where noted, we will assume that companies use one year to determine whether an asset or liability is current or long-term. Common types of current assets are (1) cash, (2) investments (such as shortterm U.S. government securities), (3) receivables (accounts receivable, notes receivable, and interest receivable), (4) inventories, and (5) prepaid expenses (insurance and supplies). Companies list current assets in the order in which they expect to convert them into cash. Follow this rule when doing your homework.
Illustration 2-3 presents the current assets of Southwest Airlines Co. in a recent year.
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
Long-term investments are generally (1) investments in stocks and bonds of other corporations that are held for more than one year, (2) long-term assets such as land or buildings that a company is not currently using in its operating activities, and (3) long-term notes receivable. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported total long-term investments of $7,200 on its balance sheet. Google Inc. reported long-term investments on its balance sheet in a recent year as shown in Illustration 2-4.
Long-term investments are generally (1) investments in stocks and bonds of other corporations that are held for more than one year, (2) long-term assets such as land or buildings that a company is not currently using in its operating activities, and (3) long-term notes receivable. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported total long-term investments of $7,200 on its balance sheet. Google Inc. reported long-term investments on its balance sheet in a recent year as shown in Illustration 2-4.
PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant, and equipment are assets with relatively long useful lives that are currently used in operating the business. This category includes land, buildings, equipment, delivery vehicles, and furniture. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported property, plant, and equipment of $29,000. Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of an asset to a number of years. Companies do this by systematically assigning a portion of an asset’s cost as an expense each year (rather than expensing the full purchase price in the year of purchase). The assets that the company depreciates are reported on the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation. The accumulated depreciation account shows the total amount of depreciation that the company has expensed thus far in the asset’s life. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported accumulated depreciation of $5,000. Illustration 2-5 presents the property, plant, and equipment of Tesla Motors, Inc. in a recent year.
Property, plant, and equipment are assets with relatively long useful lives that are currently used in operating the business. This category includes land, buildings, equipment, delivery vehicles, and furniture. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported property, plant, and equipment of $29,000. Depreciation is the allocation of the cost of an asset to a number of years. Companies do this by systematically assigning a portion of an asset’s cost as an expense each year (rather than expensing the full purchase price in the year of purchase). The assets that the company depreciates are reported on the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation. The accumulated depreciation account shows the total amount of depreciation that the company has expensed thus far in the asset’s life. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported accumulated depreciation of $5,000. Illustration 2-5 presents the property, plant, and equipment of Tesla Motors, Inc. in a recent year.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Many companies have assets that do not have physical substance and yet often are very valuable. We call these assets intangible assets. One common intangible is goodwill. Others include patents, copyrights, and trademarks or trade names that give the company exclusive right of use for a specifi ed period of time. In Illustration 2-2, Franklin Corporation reported intangible assets of $3,100.BIllustration 2-6 shows the intangible assets of media and theme park giant The Walt Disney Company in a recent year.
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