Concept explainers
Ethics in Action
Lucas Hunter, president of Simmons Industries Inc., believes that reporting operating cash flow per share on the income statement would be a useful addition to the company’s just completed financial statements. The following discussion took place between Lucas Hunter and Simmons' controller, John Jameson, in January, after the close of the fiscal year:
Lucas: I’ve been reviewing our financial statements for the last year. I am disappointed that our net income per share has dropped by 10% from last year. This won't look good to our shareholders. Is there anything we can do about this?
John. What do you means? The past is the past, and the numbers are in. There isn’t much that can be done about it Our financial statements were prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles, and I don’t see much leeway for significant change at this point.
Lucan No, no. I’ve not suggesting that we “cook the books”. But look at the cash flow from operating activities on the statement of
John. Well, the cash flow from operating activities is on the statement of cash flows, so I guess users will be able to see the improved cash flow figures there
Lucas: This is true, but somehow I think this information should be given a much higher profile. I don't like this information being “buried” in the statement of cash flows. You know as well as I do that many users will focus on the income statement Therefore. I think we ought to include an operating cash flow per share number on the face of the income statement—someplace under the earnings per share number In this way, users will get the complete picture of our operating performance. Yes, our earnings per share dropped this year, but our cash flow from operating activities improved! And all the information is in one place where users can see and compare the figures. What do you think?
John I've never really thought about it like that before I guess we could put the operating cash flow per share on the income statement, underneath the earnings per share amount. Users would really benefit from this disclosure. Thanks for the idea—I'll start working on it.
Lucas: Glad to be of service.
How would you interpret this situation? Is John behaving in an ethical and professional manner?
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Chapter 16 Solutions
Accounting (Text Only)
- You have just been hired as a financial analyst for Lydex Company, a manufacturer of safety helmets. Your boss has asked you to perform a comprehensive analysis of the company’s financial statements, including comparing Lydex’s performance to its major competitors. The company’s financial statements for the last two years are as follows: Lydex CompanyComparative Balance Sheet This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: Cash $ 1,010,000 $ 1,250,000 Marketable securities 0 300,000 Accounts receivable, net 2,900,000 2,000,000 Inventory 3,650,000 2,000,000 Prepaid expenses 270,000 210,000 Total current assets 7,830,000 5,760,000 Plant and equipment, net 9,620,000 9,100,000 Total assets $ 17,450,000 $ 14,860,000 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities: Current liabilities $ 4,060,000 $ 3,080,000 Note payable, 10% 3,700,000 3,100,000 Total liabilities 7,760,000 6,180,000…arrow_forwardYou have just been hired as a financial analyst for Lydex Company, a manufacturer of safety helmets. Your boss has asked you to perform a comprehensive analysis of the company’s financial statements, including comparing Lydex’s performance to its major competitors. The company’s financial statements for the last two years are as follows: Lydex CompanyComparative Balance Sheet This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: Cash $ 890,000 $ 1,020,000 Marketable securities 0 300,000 Accounts receivable, net 2,420,000 1,520,000 Inventory 3,530,000 2,300,000 Prepaid expenses 240,000 180,000 Total current assets 7,080,000 5,320,000 Plant and equipment, net 9,380,000 8,980,000 Total assets $ 16,460,000 $ 14,300,000 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities: Current liabilities $ 3,960,000 $ 2,860,000 Note payable, 10% 3,620,000 3,020,000 Total liabilities 7,580,000 5,880,000 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $70 par value…arrow_forwardYou have just been hired as a financial analyst for Lydex Company, a manufacturer of safety helmets. Your boss has asked you to perform a comprehensive analysis of the company’s financial statements, including comparing Lydex’s performance to its major competitors. The company’s financial statements for the last two years are as follows: Lydex CompanyComparative Balance Sheet This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: Cash $ 945,000 $ 1,250,000 Marketable securities 0 300,000 Accounts receivable, net 2,900,000 2,000,000 Inventory 3,650,000 2,000,000 Prepaid expenses 270,000 210,000 Total current assets 7,765,000 5,760,000 Plant and equipment, net 9,620,000 9,100,000 Total assets $ 17,385,000 $ 14,860,000 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities:…arrow_forward
- A colleague of yours has been reviewing the second-quarter income statements for a number of companies and is questioning a number of the expense items included in the statements. For each of the following independent questions, provide a written response to your colleague’s questions.1. A footnote accompanying Company A’s second-quarter income statement states that $360,000 was expended on research and development during the quarter on activities that should benefit operations over the next 24 months. Why does the second quarter reflect an expense of $120,000 rather than $15,000?2. Company B reported pretax income in both the first and second quarters, and the statutory tax rate during those periods and for the balance of the year is 30%. Assume that there were no net operating losses in prior years for tax purposes. However, both of the quarters reported an effective tax rate of less than 30%. What could possibly explain this?3. Assume the same facts as in part (2) except that the…arrow_forwardYou have just been hired as a financial analyst for Lydex Company, a manufacturer of safety helmets. Your boss has asked you to perform a comprehensive analysis of the company's financial statements, including comparing Lydex's performance to its major competitors. The company's financial statements for the last two years are as follows: Lydex Company Comparative Balance Sheet This Year Last Year Assets Current assets: Cash $ 1,020,000 $ 1,320,000 300,000 2,040,000 2,100,000 210,000 Marketable securities Accounts receivable, net Inventory Prepaid expenses 2,940,000 3,660,000 270,000 7,890,000 9,640,000 5,970,000 9,110,000 Total current assets Plant and equipment, net Total assets $17,530,000 $ 15,080,000 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Liabilities: Current liabilities $ 4,070,000 3,700,000 $ 2,450,000 3,100,000 Note payable, 10% Total liabilities 7,770,000 5,550,000 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $75 par value Retained earnings 7,500,000 2,260,000 7,500,000 2,030,000 Total…arrow_forwardIDENTIFY THE EFFECT OF THE FOLLOWING TRANSACTIONS TO THE RISK OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. (INCREASE, DECREASE, NO EFFECT) 1.The company has shown an ability to generate a positive cash flow from operations, while reporting earnings and earnings growth. 2.The employees of the company are being paid on a weekly basis. 3. The internal audit reports to the chairman of the board who is a minority stockholder. 4. The company recently opened up its new international branch in HongKong, catering to OFWs in that location. 5. The accounting department has experienced a low turnover rate of key personnearrow_forward
- An employee, Fred, working in the accounts office of a medium-sized company listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, was working late one evening during the week. He realized he had left his pen in the boardroom at an earlier meeting and, given its value, went upstairs to look for it. As he approached the door he heard the following discussion:‘Chief Executive: I am deeply concerned that if this fall in profit figures is disclosed in the next annual report, there will be sorts of problems with the shareholders. We may even lose a number of big investors.Non-executive director (also the cousin of the Chief Executive): (large sign) well, I suppose we could always find a way of making them look better.Chief Executive: How? I can’t see it at all.Non-executive director: Well, we could make them just slightly higher than last year’s figures by including the proceeds of sales of our toothbrush division.Chief Executive: But the sale doesn’t go through until October.Non executive director: No, but…arrow_forwardAssume you are the controller of a large corporation and the ceo has requested that you explain to them why the net income that you are reporting for the year is so low when the cell owes for a fact that cash accounts are much higher at the end of the year than they were at the beginning of the year write a memo to the ceo to offer some possible explanations for the disparity between financial statement net income and the change in cash during the yeararrow_forwardEthics and income Reporting You have been hired as an “accounting consultant” by Watson Company to evaluate its financial reporting policies. Watson is a small corporation with a few shareholders owning stock that is not publicly traded. In a discussion with you, Chris Watson, the company president, say, “ For Watson Company’s annual income statement, it is our policy to always record and report revenues when we collect the cash and to record and report expenses when we pay the cash. I like this approach, and I think our shareholders and creditors do too. This policy results in income that is reliable and conservative, which is the way accounting should be. Besides, it is easy to keep track of our income. All I need are the receipts and payments recorded in the company’s checkbook.” Required: From financial reporting and ethical perspectives, how would you reply to Chris?arrow_forward
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