Question

To analyze the financial statements of a publicly tradedcompany

Obtain an annual report from a publicly traded corporation thatis interesting to you. Be sure the company has property andequipment, intangible assets, and long-term debt on its balancesheet. Using techniques you have learned in the previous weeks,respond to the following questions.

What is the amount of property and equipment on the balancesheet for the two most recent years? What is the amount ofdepreciation expense? What amounts are on the cash flow statementfor the most recent year that relate to depreciation, gains andsales of property and equipment, and purchases and sale of propertyof equipment? What amounts are permitted for inclusion in thecapitalized cost of property and equipment?

Looking at the footnote disclosures of the company, what are theindividual components of property and equipment? For example, whatare the amounts for land, building, equipment, accumulateddepreciation, and so forth? How do companies account fornonmonetary exchange and dispositions of property andequipment?

Does the company have intangible assets? If so, what are thetypes of intangible assets (patent, copyrights, etc.) and theiramounts? What is the amount of amortization expense? What amountson the most recent cash flow statement relate to the purchase andsale of intangible assets? How do intangible assets differ fromproperty and equipment? What costs do we include in intangibleassets?

Does the company have goodwill? What are the footnotedisclosures relating to goodwill and the related acquisition?Please also describe the calculation of goodwill and how we accountfor differences between fair value and book value of assetsacquired.

What are the company's depreciation methods? What is the rangeof estimated useful lives used for depreciating its assets? Doesthe company use the same depreciation methods for financialstatements and tax returns? If not, please describe the methodsused for tax purposes.

What are the company's footnote disclosures relating toimpairment? Please also describe how to determine whether animpairment exists and how to calculate the impairment loss.

What are the amounts and descriptions of the company's currentliabilities for the most recent year? Does the company have anycontingent liabilities? If yes, please describe. What are the threecategories of contingent liabilities and the treatment for eachtype? Does the company have any subsequent events disclosed in itsfootnotes? If so, please describe them.

What are the amounts and descriptions for all of the company'slong-term liabilities on its balance sheet for the two most recentyears? What is the interest expense for the two most recent years?What amounts are included in the cash flow statements for proceedsfrom issuance of debt and repayment of debt for the most recentyear? For each note payable discussed in the footnotes disclosures,what is the interest rate, total amount borrowed, and maturitydate?

Does the company have bonds payable? If so, what are theamounts? Please also describe how bonds payable differ from notespayable and how to account for the issuance of bonds at par, at adiscount, and at a premium. How is the discount and premiumamortized? What is the effective interest method?

Does the company have capital leases? If so, what are theamounts and terms of the leases? What are the four criteria for alease to be considered a capital lease? What are the additionalcriteria for the lessor? What is the difference between asales-type lease and a direct financing lease?