When compared to the physical capital maintenance concept, the financial capital maintenance concept is the better choice for standard setting when distinguishing between a return of capital and a return on capital. The main argument in favor of physical capital maintenance is that it provides information that has better predictive value, confirmatory value, and is more complete. However, due to agency theory, prospect theory, and positive accounting theory, neutrality and completeness under physical capital maintenance would be impaired so gravely that predictive value and confirmatory value become inefficacious. As a result, financial capital maintenance, with its use of historical cost, is able to provide information to decision makers with stronger confirmatory value and predictive value.
The capital maintenance concept used results in differences between the relevance and faithful representation of the data that appears in the balance sheet and income statement. The difference between financial capital maintenance and physical is the treatment of unrealized holding gains and losses. Financial capital maintenance does not allow for unrealized holding gains and losses. Only realized gains and losses are included in income because they “are considered a return on capital” (Schroeder et al., 2013). This means, “income is measured only after the investment is recovered” (Gamble, 1981). Physical capital maintenance “consider[s unrealized holding gains and losses] as returns of capital and do[es] not include them income.” (Schroeder et al., 2013). Instead, they are treated as adjustments to equity and included in other comprehensive income. Therefore, with physical capital maintenance “an increase in an entity’s wealth as...
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...nants and performance bonuses. Under positive accounting theory, when a company is in danger of violating a debt covenant, management is more likely to use accounting policies that shift reported earnings to the current period. This can lead to further manipulation of financial information through earnings management, and fair value provides an easy manner in which to do so.
Initially, it appears that physical capital maintenance provides information that is more complete with better predictive and confirmatory value by its use of fair value. In actuality, it provides management with a greater ability to manipulate financial information and the wherewithal to do so resulting in decreased decision usefulness, as described by SFAC No. 8, compared to financial capital maintenance. Therefore, financial capital maintenance is the better choice for standards setters.
In SIVMED’s case, based on the definition of WACC, all capital bases should be included in its WACC. These include its common stock, preferred stock, bonds and long-term borrowings. In addition to being able to compute for the costs of capital, the WACC also determines how much interest SIVMED has to pay for all its activities. The value of the firm’s stock, which we want to maximize, depends of the after-tax cash flow. Hence, after-tax values for WACC are also needed. Furthermore, cost of capital is used to determine the cost of each debt, stock or common equity. Being able to analyze these will be essential into deciding what and how new capital should be acquired. Hence, the present marginal costs are ideally more essential than historical costs.
A strong balance sheet gives an investor an idea of how financially stable the company really is. Many professionals consider the top line, or cash, the most important item on a company’s balance sheet. The big three categories on any balance sheet are “assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity.” Evaluating Barnes & Noble’s assets for the time 2014 at $3,537,449, 2013 at $3,732,536 and 2012 at $3,774,699, the company’s performance summarizes that it is remaining stable. These numbers reflect a steady rate over the three year period. Like assets, liabilities are current or noncurrent. Current liabilities are obligations due within a year. Key investors look for companies with fewer liabilities than assets. Analyzing this type of important information, informs a potential investor that if the company owes more money than they are bringing in that this company is in financial trouble. Assessing the liabilities of the balance sheet, for the same time period, it is also consistent with the assets. The cash flow demonstrates a stable performance in the company’s assets and would be determined that the liabilities of this company are also stable. Equity is equal to assets minus liabilities, and it represents how much the company’s shareholders actually have a claim to. Investors customarily observe closely
The balance sheet displays the status of an entity at a specific time. Contrary to the balance sheet, income statements and statements of cash flows cover periods over time. These two forms provide the information on why the balance sheet has changed. To receive the information that contributes to the changes related to a change in retained income, the income statement will provide a detailed summary. To receive an explanation of the events that lead to modifications in cash, received and paid, the statement of cash flows will be utilized to provide that information (Horngren, 2014, p.
When discussing the cost of equity capital, or the rate of return required by investors for their share expenses, there are three main models widely used for analyzation. These models are the dividend growth model, which operates on the variable of growth and future trends, the capital asset pricing model (CAPM), which operates on the premise that higher returns are a result of higher risk, and the arbitrage pricing theory (APT), which has a more flexible set of criteria than CAPM and takes advantage of mispriced securities
It outlines the interconnection of a company’s financial and non-financial elements and aims to combine them and show value creation and maintenance. It identifies resources and their effective and responsible usage. It intends to create a dialogue between the shareholders and other stakeholders and provides them with detailed information.
Lange, Fornaro, and Buttermilch (2015) focused their research on the FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-08, in regards to Intangibles – Goodwill and Other: Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The authors elaborated on how reporting has been done in the past and how the changes made for private companies has helped ease the financial reporting of goodwill. In addition, the authors discussed the definition of a public business entity. This helps to allow private companies to determine the proper way to report their financial
Present theoretical arguments for the choice of net present value as the best method of investment appraisal;
WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT “More business fails for lack of cash than for want of profit” Efficient management of working capital is one of the pre-conditions for the success of an enterprise. Efficient management of working capital means management of various components of working capital in such a way that an adequate amount of working capital is maintained for smooth running of a firm and for fulfillment of twin objectives of liquidity and profitability. An inadequate amount of working capital impairs the firm’s liquidity. Holding of excess working capital results in the reduction of the profitability. But the proper estimation of working capital actually required, is a difficult task for the management because the amount of working capital varies across firms over the periods depending upon the nature of business, production cycle, credit policy, availability of raw material, etc.
Reichelstein, S. (2000). Providing Managerial Incentives: Cash Flows versus Accrual Accounting. Journal of Accounting Research, 38(2), 243.
Ÿ Capital structure/investment - This information is taking from the Balance sheet, but also from the Profit and Loss Account. This is examining the sources of finance the company has used and also looking at it as a potential investment opportunity. There are certain features, which must be present if financial information is to meet the needs of the user. The two most important features are that: Ÿ The information should be relevant to those who are using it.
Today financial corporate managers are continually asking, “What will today’s investment look like for the future health of the company? Should financial decisions be put on hold until the markets become stronger? Is it more profitable to act now to better position the company’s market share?” These are all questions that could be clearly answered if the managers had a magical financial crystal ball. In lieu of the crystal ball, managers have a way of calculating the financial risks with some certainty to better predict positive financial investment outcomes through the discounted cash flow valuation (DCF). DCF valuation is a realistic approach, a tool used, to “determine the future and present value of investments with multiple cash flows” over a particular period of time which is incurred at the end of each period (Ross, Westerfield, & Jordan, 2011). Solutions Matrix defines DCF as a “cash flow summary adjusted so as to reflect the time value of money (The Meaning of Discounted Cash Flow, 2014).” The valuation of money paid or rec...
Most critical to this discussion is a clear understanding of what a financial manager is and does and how his or her role aids in helping to establish the valuation of a corporate entity in today's global financial market. Quite simply, a financial manager helps to measure a company's market value and its risk while also helping to systematically reduce its costs and the time necessary to make informed decisions regarding objective driven operations. This is quite a demanding game plan for an individual and most often financial managers, in the corporate world, work in cooperation with a team of financial experts. Each member of that team perhaps having expertise in differing areas of activity, but each however, being no less expert in his or her respective area of endeavors in behalf of the corporation. The team is assembled under the direction of the officer know in the corporation as the Chief Financial Officer who today is becoming increasingly indispensable to the CEO who directs a modern model of action driven, bottom-line oriented corporate activity (Couto, Neilson, 2004). One can accurately state that the role of the competent and capable financial manager is figuratively worth its weight in gold.
Should financial decisions be put on hold until the markets become stronger? Is it more profitable to act now to better position the company’s market share?” These are all questions that could be clearly answered if the managers had a magical financial crystal ball. In lieu of the crystal ball, managers have a way of calculating the financial risks with some certainty to better predict positive financial investment outcomes through the discounted cash flow valuation (DCF). DCF valuation is a realistic approach, a tool used, to “determine the future and present value of investments with multiple cash flows” over a particular period of time which is incurred at the end of each period (Ross, Westerfield, & Jordan, 2011). Solutions Matrix defines DCF as a “cash flow summary adjusted so as to reflect the time value of money (The Meaning of Discounted Cash Flow, 2014).” The valuation of money paid or received in the future has less monetary value if that same money was to be received or paid today (The Meaning of Discounted Cash Flow, 2014). This cash flow evaluation helps managers in their determination whether or not to invest in research and development, purchase more equipment, enlarge floor space, and increase laborers, or instead, retain net profits. Either way, the DCF valuation gives
In the past, the company performance was measured by asking ‘how much money the company makes?’ To a certain extent, they are right because gross revenue, profitability, return on capital, etc. are the results that companies must bring to survive. Unfortunately, in today business if the management focuses only on the financial health of the company, numerous unwanted consequences may arise.