Chapter 17: In a Set of Financial Statements, What Information Is Conveyed by the Statement of Cash Flows?

Video Clip

(click to see video)

In this video, Professor Joe Hoyle introduces the essential points covered in Chapter 17 “In a Set of Financial Statements, What Information Is Conveyed by the Statement of Cash Flows?”.

17.1 The Structure of a Statement of Cash Flows

Learning Objectives

At the end of this section, students should be able to meet the following objectives:

  1. Describe the purpose of a statement of cash flows.
  2. Define cash and cash equivalents.
  3. Identify the three categories disclosed within a statement of cash flows.
  4. Indicate the type of transactions that are reported as operating activities and provide common examples.
  5. Indicate the type of transactions that are reported as investing activities and provide common examples.
  6. Indicate the type of transactions that are reported as financing activities and provide common examples.

The Importance of a Statement of Cash Flows

Question: Thus far in this textbook, the balance sheet and income statement have been studied in comprehensive detail along with the computation of retained earnings. By this point, a student should be able to access a set of financial statements (on the Internet, for example) and understand much of the reported information. Terms such as “FIFO,” “accumulated depreciation,” “goodwill,” “common stock,” “bad debt expense,” and the like that might have sounded like a foreign language at first should now be understandable.

Examination of one last financial statement is necessary to complete the portrait presented of a reporting entity by financial accounting and the rules of U.S. GAAP. That is the statement of cash flows. This statement was introduced briefly in an earlier chapter but will be covered here in detail. Why is it needed by decision makers? What is the rationale for presenting a statement of cash flows?

 

Answer: Coverage of the statement of cash flows has been postponed until now because its construction is unique. For this one statement, the figures do not come directly from ending T-account balances found in a general ledger. Instead, the accounts and amounts are derived from the other financial statements. Thus, an understanding of those statements is a helpful prerequisite when considering the creation of a statement of cash flows.

The delay in examining the statement of cash flows should not be taken as an indication of its lack of significance. In fact, some decision makers view it as the most important of the financial statements. They are able to see how corporate officials managed to get and then make use of the ultimate asset: cash. The acquisition of other assets, the payment of debts, and the distribution of dividends inevitably leads back to a company’s ability to generate sufficient amounts of cash. Consequently, presentation of a statement of cash flows is required by U.S. GAAP for every period in which an income statement is reported.

To reiterate the importance of this information, Michael Dell, founder of Dell Inc., states in his book Direct from Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry (written with Catherine Fredman): “We were always focused on our profit and loss statement. But cash flow was not a regularly discussed topic. It was as if we were driving along, watching only the speedometer, when in fact we were running out of gas.”Michael Dell with Catherine Fredman, Direct from Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry (New York: HarperBusiness, 1999), 47.

The income statement and the statement of cash flows connect the balance sheets from the beginning of the year to the end. During that time, total reported net assets either increase or decrease as does the entity’s cash balance. The individual causes of those changes are explained by means of the income statement and the statement of cash flows.

The purpose of the statement of cash flows is virtually self-evident: It reports the cash receipts (cash inflows) and the cash disbursements (cash outflows) to explain the changes in cash that took place during the year. However, the physical structure of this statement is not self-evident. As illustrated previously, all cash flows are classified within three distinct categories. Coverage here is designed to demonstrate the logic of this classification system and the method by which the reported numbers are derived.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Question: Because current assets are listed in order of liquidity, most businesses present “cash and cash equivalentsShort-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of ninety days or fewer that can be readily converted into known amounts of cash.” as the first account on their balance sheets. For example, as of December 31, 2010, Ball Corporation reported holding cash and cash equivalents totaling $152.0 million. This same terminology is used on Ball’s statement of cash flows which explains the drop of $58.6 million in cash and cash equivalents that took place during 2010. What constitutes cash and what are cash equivalents?

 

Answer: Cash consists of coins, currencies, bank deposits (both checking accounts and savings accounts) and some negotiable instruments (money orders, checks, and bank drafts). Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash. They are so near their maturity date that significant changes in value are unlikely. Only securities with original maturities of ninety days or fewer are classified as cash equivalents. Cash equivalents held by most companies include Treasury bills,A Treasury bill is a popular U.S. government security with a maturity date of one-year or less. commercial paper,The term “commercial paper” refers to securities issued by corporations to meet their short-term cash needs. and money market funds.

For the past few years, FASB has been considering the elimination of the cash equivalents category. If a change is made, such assets (other than cash) will likely appear on the balance sheet as temporary investments. As with all such debates, both pros and cons exist for making such an official change. For simplicity purposes, cash will be used in the examples presented throughout this chapter. However, until new authoritative rules are passed, accounting for cash equivalents is the same as that for cash.

Test Yourself

Question:

Which of the following assets is least likely to be considered a cash equivalent?

  1. Treasury bills
  2. Commercial paper
  3. Money market funds
  4. Corporate bonds

Answer:

The correct answer is choice d: Corporate bonds.

Explanation:

Treasury bills, commercial paper, and money market funds are all considered to be cash equivalents as long as they can be converted into cash and had an original maturity of ninety days or fewer. Most corporate bonds have maturity dates much longer than ninety days, often many years.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Question: For reporting purposes all cash flows are classified within one of three categories: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. What transactions are specifically identified as operating activities?

 

Answer: Operating activitiesA statement of cash flow category used to disclose cash receipts and disbursements arising from the primary activities of the reporting organization. generally involve producing and delivering goods and providing services to customers. These events are those that transpire on virtually a daily basis as a result of the organization’s primary function. For a business like Barnes & Noble, operating activities include the buying and selling of books (and other inventory items) as well as the multitude of other tasks required by that company’s retail function. As shown in Figure 17.1 “Typical Operating Activity Cash Inflows and Outflows”, operating activities are those that are expected to take place regularly in the normal course of business.

Figure 17.1 Typical Operating Activity Cash Inflows and Outflows

The net number for the period (the inflows compared to the outflows) is presented as the cash flows generated from operating activities. This figure is viewed by many decision makers as a good measure of a company’s ability to prosper. Investors obviously prefer to see a positive number, one that increases from year to year. Some analysts believe that this figure is a better reflection of a company’s financial health than reported net income because the ultimate goal of a business is to generate cash.

For example, International Paper Company reported a net loss on its income statement for the year ended December 31, 2008, of $1.282 billion (considerably worse than any of the previous five years). However, its statement of cash flows for the same period reported a net cash inflow from operating activities of $2.669 million (considerably better than any of the previous five years). That is nearly a $4 billion difference. No one could blame a decision maker for being puzzled. Did the company do poorly that year or wonderfully well?

That is the problem with relying on only a few of the numbers in a set of financial statements without a closer and more complete inspection. What caused this company to lose over $1.2 billion dollars? How did the company manage to generate nearly $2.7 billion in cash from its operating activities? In-depth analysis of financial statements is never quick and easy. It requires patience and knowledge and the willingness to dig through all the available information.

Investing Activity Cash Flows

Question: On the statement of cash flows for the year ended August 31, 2011, Walgreen Co. reported that a net of over $1.5 billion in cash was spent in connection with a variety of investing activities. This company’s management obviously made decisions that required the use of considerable sums of money. Details about those expenditures should be of interest to virtually any party analyzing this company. What cash transactions are specifically identified as investing activities?

 

Answer: Investing activitiesA statement of cash flow category used to disclose cash receipts and disbursements arising from an asset transaction other than one relating to the primary activities of the reporting organization. encompass the acquisition and disposition of assets in transactions that are separate from the central activity of the reporting organization. In simple terms, these cash exchanges do not occur as part of daily operations.

  • For a delicatessen, the purchase of bread, mustard, or onions is an operating activity, but the acquisition of a refrigerator or stove is an investing activity.
  • For a pharmacy, the sale of aspirin or a decongestant is an operating activity, but the disposal of a delivery vehicle or cash register is an investing activity.

All of these cash transactions involve assets but, to be classified as an investing activity, they can only be tangentially related to the day-to-day operation of the business. For example, Figure 17.2 “The Three Biggest Investing Activity Cash Flows Identified on Walgreen’s Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended August 31, 2011” shows the three biggest investing activity cash flows reported by Walgreen.

Figure 17.2 The Three Biggest Investing Activity Cash Flows Identified on Walgreen’s Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended August 31, 2011

Healthy, growing companies normally expect cash flows from investing activities to be negative (a net outflow) as money is invested by management especially in new noncurrent assets. As can be seen in Figure 17.2 “The Three Biggest Investing Activity Cash Flows Identified on Walgreen’s Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended August 31, 2011”Walgreen Co. spent over $1.2 billion in cash during this one year to buy property and equipment. The company apparently had sufficient cash available to fund this significant expansion.

Financing Activity Cash Flows

Question: The third category of cash flows lists the amounts received and disbursed by a business through financing activities. For the year ended July 2, 2011, Sara Lee Corporation reported that its cash balance had been reduced by over $1.7 billion as a result of such financing activities. Again, that is a lot of money leaving the company. What transactions are specifically identified in a statement of cash flows as financing activities?

 

Answer: Financing activitiesA statement of cash flow category used to disclose cash receipts and disbursements arising from a liability or stockholders’ equity transaction other than one relating to the primary activities of the organization. are transactions separate from the central, day-to-day activities of an organization that involve either liabilities or shareholders’ equity accounts. Cash inflows from financing activities include issuing capital stock and incurring liabilities such as bonds or notes payable. Outflows are created by the distribution of dividends, the acquisition of treasury stock, the payment of noncurrent liabilities, and other similar cash transactions.

As can be seen in Figure 17.3 “The Three Biggest Financing Activity Cash Flows Identified on Sara Lee’s Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended July 2, 2011”Sara Lee’s three biggest changes in cash that resulted from financing activities were the repayments of other debt, purchases of common stock, and borrowing of other debt. Significant information about management’s decisions is readily apparent from an analysis of the cash flows from both investing and financing activities.

Figure 17.3 The Three Biggest Financing Activity Cash Flows Identified on Sara Lee’s Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended July 2, 2011

The net result reported for financing activities is frequently positive in some years and negative in others. When a company borrows money or sells capital stock, an overall positive inflow of cash is likely. In years when a large dividend is distributed or debt is settled, the net figure for financing activities is more likely to be negative.

Test Yourself

Question:

The Reardon Company paid salary to its employees totaling $527,000 during the current year. Into which category on a statement of cash flows will these payments be placed?

  1. Operating activities
  2. Investing activities
  3. Financing activities
  4. Capital activities

Answer:

The correct answer is choice a: Operating activities.

Explanation:

The payment of salary is a regular operating activity. The expenditure takes place as a direct result of the day-to-day operations of the business.

Test Yourself

Question:

The McGuire Company, located in Wilcox, Texas, issued 10,000 shares of its $3 par value common stock during this year for $9 in cash per share. Into which category on a statement of cash flows will this $90,000 capital contribution be placed?

  1. Operating activities
  2. Investing activities
  3. Financing activities
  4. Capital activities

Answer:

The correct answer is choice c: Financing activities.

Explanation:

This issuance of common (and preferred) stock is identified as a financing activity. It represents a change in a shareholders’ equity account. However, the cash inflow is not directly related to the daily operations of the business.

Test Yourself

Question:

The Staunton Corporation owns and operates several restaurants in eastern Iowa. Looking to expand operations, Staunton bought a piece of land recently for $500,000. The business paid $100,000 and a noncurrent note payable was signed for the remaining $400,000. How is this transaction reported on a statement of cash flows?

  1. Investing activity as an outflow of $100,000
  2. Investing activity as an outflow of $500,000
  3. Financing activity as an outflow of $100,000
  4. Financing activity as an outflow of $500,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice a: Investing activity as an outflow of $100,000.

Explanation:

The purpose of the transaction is to acquire land. Land is an asset and this event did not take place as a normal part of Staunton’s daily operations. Thus, the transaction is an investing activity. Because $100,000 in cash was spent for this acquisition, the transaction is reported as an outflow of that amount. The $500,000 cost of the land and the $400,000 note payable will be recorded on the corporation’s balance sheet.

Disclosure of Noncash Transactions

Question: Significant investing and financing transactions can occur without any cash component. Land, for example, might be obtained by issuing common stock. Buildings are often bought through the signing of a long-term note payable with all cash payments deferred into the future. Is that information omitted entirely from the statement of cash flows? If no cash is received or expended, should a transaction be reported on a statement of cash flows?

 

Answer: All investing and financing transactions need to be reported in some manner because of the informational value. They represent choices made by the organization’s management. Even if no cash is involved, such events must still be disclosed in a separate schedule (often attached to the statement of cash flows) or explained in the notes to the financial statements. This information is valuable to the interested parties who want a complete picture of the investing and financing decisions that were made during the period.

For example, on the statement for Duke Energy Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2010, a significant noncash transaction was identified as “accrued capital expenditures” of $361 million. Although cash was not involved, inclusion of this information was still deemed to be important.

Stock dividends and stock splits, though, are omitted entirely in creating a statement of cash flows. As discussed previously, they are viewed as techniques to reduce the price of a corporation’s stock and are not decisions that impact the allocation of financial resources.

Key Takeaway

A statement of cash flows is required by U.S. GAAP whenever an income statement is presented. It explains all changes occurring in cash and cash equivalents during the reporting period. The various cash inflows and outflows are classified into one of three categories. Operating activities result from the primary or central function of the business. Investing activities are not part of normal operations and affect an asset (such as the cash acquisition of a truck or the sale of a patent). Financing activities are not part of normal operations and involve a liability or a stockholders’ equity account (borrowing money on a note, for example, or the reacquisition of treasury stock). Significant investing and financing activities that do not impact cash must still be disclosed because they reflect decisions made by management.

17.2 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: The Direct Method

Learning Objectives

At the end of this section, students should be able to meet the following objectives:

  1. Identify the two methods available for reporting cash flows from operating activities.
  2. Indicate the method of reporting cash flows from operating activities that is preferred by FASB as well as the one that is most commonly used in practice.
  3. List the steps to be followed in determining cash flows from operating activities.
  4. List the income statement accounts that are removed entirely in computing cash flows from operating activities and explain this procedure when the direct method is applied.
  5. Identify common “connector accounts” that are used to convert accrual accounting figures to the change taking place in the cash balance as a result of these transactions.
  6. Compute the cash inflows and outflows resulting from common revenues and expenses such as sales, cost of goods sold, rent expense, salary expense, and the like.

The Handling of Noncash and Nonoperating Transactions by the Direct Method

Question: The net cash inflow or outflow generated by operating activities is especially significant information to any person looking at an organization’s financial health and future prospects. According to U.S. GAAP, that information can be presented within the statement of cash flows by either of two approaches: the direct methodA mechanical method of reporting the amount of cash flows that a company generates from its operating activities; it is preferred by FASB because the information is easier to understand but it is only rarely encountered in practice. or the indirect methodA mechanical method of reporting the amount of cash flows that a company generates from its operating activities; it is allowed by FASB (although the direct method is viewed as superior) but is used by a vast majority of businesses in the United States..

The numerical amount of the change in cash resulting from a company’s daily operations is not impacted by this reporting choice. The increase or decrease in cash is a fact that will not vary because of the manner of presentation. Both methods arrive at the same total. The informational value to decision makers, though, is potentially affected by the approach selected.

FASB has indicated a preference for the direct method. In contrast, reporting companies (by an extremely wide margin) continue to use the more traditional indirect method. Thus, both will be demonstrated here. The direct method is more logical and will be discussed first. How is information presented when the direct method is selected to disclose a company’s cash flows from operating activities?

 

Answer: The direct method starts with the entire income statement for the period. Then, each of the separately reported figures is converted into the amount of cash received or spent in carrying on this operating activity. “Sales,” for example, is turned into “cash collected from customers.” “Salary expense” and “rent expense” are recomputed as “cash paid to employees” and “cash paid to rent facilities.”

For illustration purposes, assume that Liberto Company prepared its income statement for the year ended December 31, Year One, as shown in Figure 17.4 “Liberto Company Income Statement Year Ended December 31, Year One”. This statement has been kept rather simple so that the conversion to cash flows from operating activities is not unnecessarily complex. For example, income tax expense has been omitted.

Figure 17.4 Liberto Company Income Statement Year Ended December 31, Year One

The $100,000 net income figure reported here by Liberto is based on the application of U.S. GAAP. However, the amount of cash generated by the company’s operating activities might be considerably more or much less than that income figure. It is a different piece of information.

To transform a company’s income statement into its cash flows from operating activities, several distinct steps must be taken. These steps are basically the same regardless of whether the direct method or the indirect method is applied.

The first step is the complete elimination of any income statement account that does not involve cash. Although such balances are important in arriving at net income, they are not relevant to the cash generated and spent in connection with daily operations. By far the most obvious example is depreciation. This expense appears on virtually all income statements but has no direct impact on a company’s cash. In determining cash flows from operating activities, it is omitted because depreciation is neither a source nor use of cash. It is an allocation of a historical cost to expense over an asset’s useful life. To begin the calculation of the cash flows resulting from Liberto’s operating activities, the $80,000 depreciation expense must be removed.

The second step is the removal of any gains and losses that resulted from investing or financing activities. Although cash was likely involved in these transactions, this inflow or outflow is reported elsewhere in the statement of cash flows and not within the company’s operating activities. For example, Liberto’s $40,000 gain on the sale of equipment is germane to the reporting of investing activities, not operating activities. The cash received in this disposal is included on the statement of cash flows but as an investing activity.

Neither (a) noncash items such as depreciation nor (b) nonoperating gains and losses are included when an income statement is converted to the cash flows from operating activities.

Converting Accrual Accounts to Cash Flows—The Direct Method

Question: After all noncash and nonoperating balances are deleted, Liberto is left with four income statement accounts:

  1. Sales to customers—$480,000
  2. Cost of goods sold—$250,000
  3. Salary expense—$60,000
  4. Rent expense—$30,000

These balances all relate to operating activities. However, the numbers reflect the application of U.S. GAAP and accrual accounting rather than the amount of cash exchanged. The cash effects must be determined individually for these accounts. How are income statement figures such as sales or rent expense converted to the amount of cash received or expended?

 

Answer: The third step in the process of determining cash flows from operating activities is the individual conversion to cash of all remaining income statement accounts. For these balances, a difference usually exists between the time of recognition as specified by accrual accounting and the exchange of cash. A sale is made on Monday (revenue is recognized), but the money is not collected until Friday. An employee performs work on Monday (expense is recognized) but payment is not made until Friday.

These timing differences occur because accrual accounting is required by U.S. GAAP. Thus, many revenues and expenses are not recorded at the same time as the related cash transactions. In the interim, recognition of an asset or liability balance is necessary. Between the sale on Monday and the collection on Friday, the business reports an account receivable. This asset goes up when the sale is made and down when the cash is collected. Between the employee’s work on Monday and the payment on Friday, the business reports a salary payable. This liability goes up when the money is earned and down when the cash payment is made. In this textbook, these interim accounts (such as accounts receivable and salary payable) will be referred to as “connector accounts” because they connect the recording mandated by accrual accounting with the cash transaction.

Each income statement account (other than the noncash and nonoperating numbers that have already been eliminated) has at least one asset or liability that is recorded between the time of accounting recognition and the exchange of cash. The changes in these connector accounts can be used to convert the individual income statement figures to their cash equivalents. Basically, the increase or decrease is removed to revert the reported number back to the amount of cash involved. As can be seen in Figure 17.5 “Common Connector Accounts for Liberto’s Four Income Statement Balances”, connector accounts are mostly receivables, payables, and prepaid expenses.

Figure 17.5 Common Connector Accounts for Liberto’s Four Income Statement BalancesFor convenience, the allowance for doubtful accounts will not be included with accounts receivable. The possibility of bad debts makes the conversion to cash more complicated and is covered in upper-level accounting textbooks.

If a connector account is an asset and the balance goes up, the business has less cash (the receivable was not collected, for example). If a connector account is an asset and goes down, the business has more cash (such as when receivables from previous years are collected in the current period). Therefore, for a connector account that is an asset, an inverse relationship exists between the change in the balance during the year and the reporting entity’s cash balance.

  • Increase in connector account that is an asset → Lower cash balance
  • Decrease in connector account that is an asset → Higher cash balance

If a connector account is a liability and the balance goes up, the business has saved its cash and holds more (an expense has been incurred but not yet paid, for example). If a connector account is a liability and this balance falls, the business must have used its cash to reduce the debt and has less remaining. Consequently, a direct relationship exists between the change in a connector account that is a liability and the cash balance.

  • Increase in connector account that is a liability → Higher cash balance
  • Decrease in connector account that is a liability → Lower cash balance

Applying the Direct Method to Determine Cash Revenues and Expenses

Question: Liberto has one revenue and three expenses left on its income statement after removal of noncash and nonoperating items. To arrive at the net cash flows from operating activities, the cash inflow or outflow relating to each must be determined. Assume that the following changes took place during this year in the related balance sheet connector accounts:

  • Accounts receivable: up $19,000
  • Inventory: down $12,000
  • Prepaid rent: up $4,000
  • Accounts payable: up $9,000
  • Salary payable: down $5,000

In applying the direct method to determine operating activity cash flows, how are the individual figures to be disclosed computed?

 

Answer:

  • Sales to customers were reported on the income statement as $480,000. During that same period, accounts receivable increased by $19,000. Thus, less money was collected than the amount of the company’s credit sales. That is the cause for a rise in receivables. To reflect the collection of less cash, a reduction is needed. Consequently, the cash received from customers was only $461,000 ($480,000 less $19,000).
  • Salary expense was reported as $60,000. During that time period, salary payable went down by $5,000. More cash must have been paid to cause this drop in the liability. The amount actually paid to employees was $65,000 ($60,000 plus $5,000).
  • Rent expense was reported as $30,000. Prepaid rent increased by $4,000 from the first of the year to the end. This connector account is an asset. Because this asset increased, Liberto must have paid an extra amount for rent. Cash paid for rent was $34,000 ($30,000 plus $4,000).
  • Cost of goods sold has been left to last because it requires an extra step. The company first determines the quantity of inventory bought during this period. Only then can the cash payment made for those acquisitions be determined.

    • Cost of goods sold is reported as $250,000. However, the balance held in inventory fell by $12,000. Thus, the company bought $12,000 less inventory than it sold. Fewer purchases cause a drop in inventory. The amount of inventory acquired during the period was only $238,000 ($250,000 less $12,000).
    • Next, the cash paid for those purchases is calculated. As indicated, accounts payable went up $9,000. Liabilities increase because less money is paid. Although $238,000 of merchandise was acquired, only $229,000 in cash payments were made ($238,000 less $9,000).

After each of these four income statement accounts is converted to the amount of cash received or paid this period, the operating activity section of the statement of cash flows can be created by the direct method as shown in Figure 17.6 “Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Direct Method”.

Figure 17.6 Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Direct Method

Liberto’s income statement reported net income of $100,000. However, the cash generated by operating activities during this same period was $133,000. The conversion from accrual accounting to operating cash inflows and outflows required three steps.

  1. All noncash revenues and expenses (depreciation, in this example) were removed. These accounts do not represent cash transactions.
  2. All nonoperating gains and losses (the gain on sale of equipment, in this example) were removed. These accounts reflect investing and financing activities and the resulting cash flows are reported in those sections of the statement of cash flows rather than within the operating activities.
  3. All remaining income statement accounts are adjusted to the amount of cash physically exchanged this period by applying the change in each related connector account. By this process, accrual accounting figures are converted to cash balances.

Test Yourself

Question:

The Giotto Company reported sales in its latest year of $800,000. Giotto held $170,000 in accounts receivable at the beginning of the period but only $144,000 at the end. Assume that all of these receivables are viewed as collectible so that no allowance is needed. What amount of cash did the company collect this period from its customers?

  1. $774,000
  2. $776,000
  3. $824,000
  4. $826,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice d: $826,000.

Explanation:

During this year, the accounts receivable balance dropped by $26,000 ($170,000 to $144,000). Thus, more cash was collected than the amount of sales. Receivables decrease because cash is received. These additional receipts indicate that a total of $826,000 was collected from the Giotto’s customers ($800,000 plus $26,000).

Test Yourself

Question:

The Lessain Company reported salary expense of $345,000 on its income statement for the year ended December 31, Year One. At the beginning of that year, salary payable was shown as $31,000 but rose to $40,000 by December 31. In reporting the Lessain’s cash flows generated from operating activities, what amount should be shown as the cash paid to employees?

  1. $336,000
  2. $345,000
  3. $354,000
  4. $376,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice a: $336,000.

Explanation:

Lessain’s salary payable went up by $9,000. Accrued liabilities rise because fewer payments are made than the expenses incurred. Although employees earned $345,000 during this year, only $336,000 was paid to them as salary ($345,000 less $9,000). It is this reduction in the cash payment that caused the salary payable account to increase by $9,000 during Year One.

Test Yourself

Question:

The TJ Corporation reported cost of goods sold for Year One of $564,000. During that same period, this company’s inventory balance rose by $22,000 while its accounts payable fell by $7,000. In creating a statement of cash flows using the direct method, what amount should be reported by the TJ Corporation as the cash spent to acquire inventory?

  1. $535,000
  2. $549,000
  3. $579,000
  4. $593,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice d: $593,000.

Explanation:

Although cost of goods sold was reported as $564,000, the inventory on hand increased $22,000. More inventory was bought that year than sold. TJ acquired $586,000 in inventory during Year One ($564,000 sold plus the $22,000 increase). At the same time, accounts payable dropped. This decrease indicates that more in cash was paid than the amount bought. Spending an extra $7,000 caused the reduction. Thus, cash paid out this year to acquire inventory was $593,000 ($586,000 plus $7,000).

Test Yourself

Question:

Sales reported by a local shoe store are $470,000. Accounts receivable decreased by $27,000 this year while unearned revenues rose by $14,000. If the direct method is used to report cash flows from operating activities, how much should be shown as the store’s cash collected from its customers?

  1. $429,000
  2. $467,000
  3. $483,000
  4. $511,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice d: $511,000.

Explanation:

A new connector account (unearned revenues) is included here. This balance represents cash received where revenue has not yet been earned. This increase indicates that $14,000 more in cash was collected from customers than the amount reported as revenue. Also, accounts receivable fell by $27,000. Receivables are reduced through collection. The shoe store must have received that much more cash than it earned. Cash received during this period is $511,000 ($470,000 plus $14,000 and $27,000).

Key Takeaway

An entity’s cash flows from operating activities can be derived and reported by either the direct method or the indirect method. FASB has expressed preference for the direct method but the indirect method has been adopted by virtually all businesses in the United States. The process always begins with the income for the period (the entire income statement is used when the direct method is applied). First noncash items (such as depreciation) and then nonoperating gains and losses are eliminated entirely because they are not related to operating activity cash flows. In the direct method, the remaining revenue and expense accounts are individually converted into cash figures. For each, the change in one or more related balance sheet connector accounts is used to adjust these accrual accounting numbers to their corresponding cash balances. Thus, income statement balances are returned to their underlying cash inflows and outflows for reporting purposes.

17.3 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: The Indirect Method

Learning Objectives

At the end of this section, students should be able to meet the following objectives:

  1. Explain the difference in the start of the operating activities section of the statement of cash flows when the indirect method is used rather than the direct method.
  2. Demonstrate the removal of both noncash items and nonoperating gains and losses in the application of the indirect method.
  3. Determine the effect caused by the change in the various connector accounts when the indirect method is used to present cash flows from operating activities.
  4. Identify the reporting classification for interest revenues, dividend revenues, and interest expense in creating a statement of cash flows and explain the controversy that resulted from this handling.

The Steps Followed in Applying the Indirect Method

Question: As mentioned, most organizations do not choose to present their operating activity cash flows using the direct method despite the preference of FASB. Instead, this information is almost universally shown within a statement of cash flows by means of the indirect method. How does the indirect method of reporting operating activity cash flows differ from the direct method?

 

Answer: The indirect method actually follows the same set of procedures as the direct method except that it begins with net income rather than the business’s entire income statement. After that, the same three steps demonstrated previously to determine the net cash flows from operating activities are followed although the mechanical application here is different.

  1. Noncash items are removed.
  2. Nonoperational gains and losses are removed.
  3. Adjustments are made, based on the monetary change occurring during the period in the various balance sheet connector accounts, to switch all remaining revenues and expenses from accrual accounting to cash accounting.

Removing Noncash and Nonoperating Items—The Indirect Method

Question: In the income statement presented in Figure 17.4 “Liberto Company Income Statement Year Ended December 31, Year One” for the Liberto Company, net income was reported as $100,000. This figure included depreciation expense (a noncash item) of $80,000 and a gain on the sale of equipment (an investing activity rather than an operating activity) of $40,000. In applying the indirect method, how are noncash items and nonoperating gains and losses removed from net income?

 

Answer: First, all noncash items within net income are eliminated. Depreciation is the example included here. As an expense, it is a negative component found within net income. To remove a negative, it is offset by a positive. Thus, adding back $80,000 serves to remove the impact of depreciation from the reporting company’s net income.

Second, all nonoperating items within net income are eliminated. Liberto’s gain on sale of equipment is reported within reported income. As a gain, it is a positive figure; it helped increase profits this period. To eliminate this gain, $40,000 must be subtracted from net income. The cash flows resulting from this transaction came from an investing activity and not an operating activity.

In applying the indirect method, as shown in Figure 17.7 “Operating Activity Cash Flows, Indirect Method—Elimination of Noncash and Nonoperating Balances”, a negative is removed by addition; a positive is removed by subtraction.

Figure 17.7 Operating Activity Cash Flows, Indirect Method—Elimination of Noncash and Nonoperating Balances

  • In the direct method, these two income statement amounts were simply omitted in arriving at the individual cash flows from operating activities.
  • In the indirect method, they are both physically removed from income by reversing their effect.

The impact is the same in the indirect method as in the direct method; the balances are removed.

Converting Accrual Accounting Figures to Cash Balances—The Indirect Method

Question: After all noncash and nonoperating items are removed from net income, only the changes in the balance sheet connector accounts must be utilized to complete the conversion to cash. For Liberto, those balances were shown previously.

  • Accounts receivable: up $19,000
  • Inventory: down $12,000
  • Prepaid rent: up $4,000
  • Accounts payable: up $9,000
  • Salary payable: down $5,000

Each of these increases and decreases was used in the direct method to turn accrual accounting figures into cash balances. That same process is followed in the indirect method. In determining cash flows from operating activities, how are changes in an entity’s connector accounts reflected in the application of the indirect method?

 

Answer: Although the procedures appear to be different, the same logic is applied in the indirect method as in the direct method. The change in each of the previous connector accounts discloses the difference in the accrual accounting amounts recognized in the income statement and the actual changes in cash. Here, though, the effect is measured on net income as a whole rather than on the individual revenue and expense accounts.

Accounts receivable increased by $19,000. This rise in the receivable balance shows that less money was collected than the sales made by Liberto during the period. Receivables go up because customers are slow to pay. This change results in a lower cash balance. Thus, the $19,000 is subtracted in arriving at the cash flow amount generated by operating activities. The cash received was actually less than the figure reported for sales that appears within the company’s net income. Subtract $19,000.

Inventory decreased by $12,000. A drop in the amount of inventory on hand indicates that less merchandise was purchased during the period. Buying less requires a smaller amount of cash to be paid. That leaves the cash balance higher. The $12,000 is added in arriving at the operating activity change in cash. Add $12,000.

Prepaid rent increased by $4,000. An increase in any prepaid expense shows that more of the asset was acquired during the year than was consumed. This additional purchase requires the use of cash; thus, the resulting cash balance is lower. The increase in prepaid rent necessitates a $4,000 subtraction in the operating activity cash flow computation. Subtract $4,000.

Accounts payable increased by $9,000. Any jump in a liability means that Liberto paid less cash during the period than the debts that were incurred. Postponing liability payments is a common method for saving cash to keep the reported balance high. In determining cash flows from operating activities, the $9,000 liability increase is added. Add $9,000.

Salary payable decreased by $5,000. Liability balances fall when additional payments are made. Such cash transactions are reflected in applying the indirect method by a $5,000 subtraction from net income. Subtract $5,000.

Therefore, if Liberto Company uses the indirect method to report its cash flows from operating activities, the information will be presented to decision makers as shown in Figure 17.8 “Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Indirect Method”.

Figure 17.8 Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Indirect Method

As with the direct method (Figure 17.6 “Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Direct Method”), the total here reflects a net cash inflow of $133,000 from the operating activities of this company. In both cases, the starting spot was net income (either as the entire income statement or as the single number). Then, all noncash items were removed as well as nonoperating gains and losses. Finally, the effect of changes in the various connector accounts that bridge the time period between accrual accounting recognition and the cash exchange are included so that only the cash flows from operating activities remain.

In reporting operating activity cash flows by means of the indirect method (Figure 17.8 “Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Indirect Method”), the following pattern can be seen.

  • A change in a connector account that is an asset is reflected on the statement in the opposite fashion. As shown previously, increases in both accounts receivable and prepaid rent are subtracted while a decrease in inventory is added.
  • A change in a connector account that is a liability is included on the statement in an identical change. An increase in accounts payable is added whereas a decrease in salary payable is subtracted.

A quick visual comparison of the direct method (Figure 17.6 “Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Direct Method”) and the indirect method (Figure 17.8 “Liberto Company Statement of Cash Flows for Year One, Operating Activities Reported by Indirect Method”) makes the two appear almost completely unrelated. However, when analyzed more closely, the same series of steps can be seen in each. They both begin with the income for the period. Noncash items and nonoperating gains and losses are removed. Changes in the connector accounts for the period are factored in so that only the cash from operating activities remains.

Test Yourself

Question:

The Hemingway Company reported net income last year of $354,000. Within that figure, depreciation expense of $37,000 was included. In addition, accounts receivable increased by $11,000 during the period. What amount of cash did this company generate from its operating activities?

  1. $306,000
  2. $328,000
  3. $380,000
  4. $402,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice c: $380,000.

Explanation:

Depreciation is a noncash expense that appears within net income as a negative. To remove it, the $37,000 figure is added. Addition counterbalances the original negative effect. The increase in accounts receivable means that customers were slow to pay this year. Credit sales were greater than the amount of cash received. The $11,000 is subtracted from net income to arrive at the lower cash figure. Thus, cash inflow from operating activities is $380,000 ($354,000 + $37,000 − $11,000).

Test Yourself

Question:

The Faulkner Corporation reported net income in Year One of $437,000. Accounts receivable at the start of the period totaled $26,000 but grew to $41,000 by the end of Year One. Beginning insurance payable was $7,000 but fell to an ending balance of $4,000. What amount of cash did Faulkner collect as a result of its operating activities?

  1. $419,000
  2. $425,000
  3. $449,000
  4. $455,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice a: $419,000.

Explanation:

Accounts receivable went from $26,000 to $41,000. The $15,000 increase indicates that credit sales were greater than cash collected. The $15,000 is subtracted from net income. Insurance payable fell by $3,000 ($7,000 to $4,000); thus, the amount paid was greater than the expense recognized. Cash was spent to reduce the liability. The $3,000 is also subtracted in arriving at the cash change. The cash inflow from operating activities is $419,000 ($437,000 net income − $15,000 and $3,000).

The Reporting of Dividends and Interest on the Statement of Cash Flows

Question: When listing cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2010, EMC Corporation (a technology company) included an inflow of nearly $103 million labeled as “dividends and interest received” as well as an outflow of over $76 million shown as “interest paid.”

Unless a company is a bank or financing institution, dividend and interest revenues do not appear to relate to its central operating function. For most businesses, these cash inflows are fundamentally different from the normal sale of goods and services. Monetary amounts collected as dividends and interest resemble investing activity cash inflows because they are often generated from noncurrent assets. Similarly, interest expense payments are normally associated with noncurrent liabilities rather than resulting from daily operations. Interest expenditures could certainly be viewed as a financing activity cash outflow.

Dividend distributions are not in question here. They are labeled as financing activity cash outflows because they are made directly to stockholders. The issue is the classification of dividend and interest revenue collections and interest expense payments. Why is cash received as dividends and interest and cash paid as interest expense reported within operating activities on a statement of cash flows rather than as investing activities and financing activities?

 

Answer: Authoritative pronouncements that create U.S. GAAP are the subject of years of intense study, discussion, and debate. In this process, controversies often arise. When FASB issued its official standard on cash flows in 1987, three of the seven board members voted against passage. Their opposition, at least in part, came from the handling of interest and dividends. On page ten of Statement 95, Statement of Cash Flows, these three argue “that interest and dividends received are returns on investments in debt and equity securities that should be classified as cash inflows from investing activities. They believe that interest paid is a cost of obtaining financial resources that should be classified as a cash outflow for financing activities.”

The other board members were not convinced. Thus, inclusion of dividends collected, interest collected, and interest paid within an entity’s operating activity cash flows became a requirement of U.S. GAAP. Such disagreements arise frequently in the creation of official accounting rules.

The majority of the board apparently felt that—because these transactions occur on a regular ongoing basis—a better portrait of the organization’s cash flows is provided by inclusion within operating activities. At every juncture of financial accounting, multiple possibilities for reporting exist. Rarely is complete consensus ever achieved as to the most appropriate method of presenting financial information.

Talking With an Independent Auditor about International Financial Reporting Standards

Following is the conclusion of our interview with Robert A. Vallejo, partner with the accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.

 

Question: Any company that follows U.S. GAAP and issues an income statement must also present a statement of cash flows. Cash flows are classified as resulting from operating activities, investing activities, or financing activities. Are IFRS rules the same for the statement of cash flows as those found in U.S. GAAP?

Rob Vallejo: Differences do exist between the two frameworks for the presentation of the statement of cash flows, but they are relatively minor. Probably the most obvious issue involves the reporting of interest and dividends that are received and paid. Under IFRS, interest and dividend collections may be classified as either operating or investing cash flows whereas, in U.S. GAAP, they are both required to be shown within operating activities. A similar difference exists for interest and dividend payments. These cash outflows can be classified as either operating or financing activities according to IFRS. For U.S. GAAP, interest payments are viewed as operating activities whereas dividend payments are considered financing activities.

Key Takeaway

Most reporting entities use the indirect method to report net cash flows from operating activities. This presentation begins with net income and then eliminates any noncash items (such as depreciation expense) as well as nonoperating gains and losses. Their impact on net income is reversed to create this removal. In addition, changes in each balance sheet connector account (such as accounts receivables, inventory, accounts payable, and salary payable) must also be utilized in converting from accrual accounting to cash. Changes in asset connectors are reversed in arriving at cash flows from operating activities whereas changes in liability connectors have the same impact (increases are added and decreases are subtracted). Cash transactions that result from interest revenue, dividend revenue, and interest expense are all reported within operating activities because they happen on a regular ongoing basis. However, some argue that interest and dividend collections are really derived from investing activities and interest payments relate to financing activities.

17.4 Cash Flows from Investing and Financing Activities

Learning Objectives

At the end of this section, students should be able to meet the following objectives:

  1. Analyze the changes in assets that are not operating assets to determine cash inflows and outflows from investing activities.
  2. Analyze the changes in liabilities (that are not operating liabilities) and stockholders’ equity accounts to determine cash inflows and outflows from financing activities.
  3. Recreate journal entries to determine the individual effects on ledger accounts where several cash transactions have occurred.

Determining Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Question: As shown in Figure 17.9 “The Walt Disney Company Investing Activity Cash Flows for Year Ended October 2, 2010”The Walt Disney Company reported a net cash outflow of over $4.5 billion as a result of investing activities undertaken during the year ended October 2, 2010.

Figure 17.9 The Walt Disney Company Investing Activity Cash Flows for Year Ended October 2, 2010

This section of Disney’s statement of cash flows shows that a number of transactions involving assets (other than operating assets such as inventory and accounts receivable) created this $4.5 billion reduction in cash. Information about management decisions is readily available. For example, a potential investor can see that officials chose to spend over $2.1 billion in cash during this year in connection with Disney’s parks, resorts and other property. Interestingly, this expenditure level is approximately 20 percent higher than the monetary amount invested in those assets the previous year. With a strong knowledge of financial accounting, a portrait of a business and its activities begins to become clear.

After the various cash amounts are determined, conveyance of this information does not appear particularly complicated. How does a company arrive at the investing activity figures that are disclosed within the statement of cash flows?

 

Answer: Here, the accountant is not interested in assets such as inventory, accounts receivable, and prepaid rent because they are included within operating activities. Instead, each of the other asset accounts (land, buildings, equipment, patents, trademarks, and the like) is investigated to determine the individual transactions that took place during the year. The amount of every cash change is identified and reported. A sale of land can create a cash inflow whereas the acquisition of a building may well require the payment of some amount of cash.

The difficulty in this process frequently comes from having to sort through multiple purchases and sales to compute the exact amount of cash involved in each transaction. At times, determining the individual cash effects can resemble the work needed to solve a puzzle with many connecting pieces. Often, the journal entries that were made originally must be replicated. Even then, the cash portion of these transactions may have to be determined by mathematical logic. To illustrate, assume that the Hastings Company reports the account balances that appear in Figure 17.10 “Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Investing Activities”.

Figure 17.10 Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Investing Activities

In looking through the financial records maintained by this business, assume the accountant finds two additional pieces of information about the accounts in Figure 17.10 “Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Investing Activities”:

  • Equipment costing $600,000 was sold this year for cash.
  • Other equipment was acquired, also for cash.

Sale of equipment. This transaction is analyzed first because the cost of the equipment is already provided. However, the accumulated depreciation relating to the disposed asset is not known. The accountant must study the available data to determine that missing number because that balance is also removed when the asset is sold.

Accumulated depreciation at the start of the year was $300,000 but depreciation expense of $230,000 was then reported as shown in Figure 17.10 “Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Investing Activities”. This expense was apparently recognized through the year-end adjustment recreated in Figure 17.11 “Assumed Adjusting Entry for Depreciation”.

Figure 17.11 Assumed Adjusting Entry for Depreciation

The depreciation entry increases the accumulated depreciation account to $530,000 ($300,000 plus $230,000). However, the end-of-year balance is not $530,000 but only $450,000. What caused the $80,000 drop in this contra asset account?

Accumulated depreciation represents the cost of a long-lived asset that has already been expensed. Virtually the only situation in which accumulated depreciation is reduced is the disposal of the related asset. Here, the accountant knows equipment was sold. Although the amount of accumulated depreciation relating to that asset is unknown, the assumption can be made that the sale caused this reduction of $80,000. No other possible decrease in accumulated depreciation is mentioned.

Thus, the accountant believes equipment costing $600,000 but with accumulated depreciation of $80,000 (and, hence, a net book value of $520,000) was sold. The amount received must have created the $74,000 gain that is shown in the reported balances in Figure 17.10 “Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Investing Activities”.

A hypothetical journal entry can be constructed in Figure 17.12 “Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Equipment” from this information.

Figure 17.12 Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Equipment

This journal entry only balances if the cash received is $594,000. Equipment with a book value of $520,000 was sold during the year at a reported gain of $74,000. Apparently, $594,000 was the cash received. How does all of this information affect the statement of cash flows?

  • A cash inflow of $594,000 is reported within investing activities. It is labeled something like “cash received from sale of equipment.”
  • Depreciation of $230,000 is eliminated from net income in computing the cash flows from operating activities because this expense had no impact on cash flows.
  • In determining the cash flows from operating activities, the $74,000 gain is also eliminated from net income. The $594,000 cash collection comes from an investing activity rather than an operating activity.

Purchase of equipment. According to the information provided, another asset was acquired this year but its cost is not provided. Once again, the accountant must puzzle out the amount of cash involved in the transaction.

The equipment account began the year with a $730,000 balance. The sale of equipment costing $600,000 was just discussed. This transaction should have dropped the ledger account to $130,000 ($730,000 less $600,000). However, at the end of the period, the amount reported for this asset is actually $967,000. How did the cost of equipment rise from $130,000 to $967,000? If no other transaction is mentioned, the most reasonable explanation is that additional equipment was acquired at a cost of $837,000 ($967,000 less $130,000). Unless information is available indicating that part of this purchase was made on credit, the journal entry that was recorded originally must have been made as shown in Figure 17.13 “Assumed Journal Entry for Purchase of Equipment”.

Figure 17.13 Assumed Journal Entry for Purchase of Equipment

At this point, the changes in all related accounts (equipment, accumulated depreciation, depreciation expense, and the gain on sale of equipment) have been used to determine the two transactions for the period and their related cash inflows and outflows. In the statement of cash flows for this company, the investing activities are listed as shown in Figure 17.14 “Statement of Cash Flows—Investing Activities”.

Figure 17.14 Statement of Cash Flows—Investing Activities

Test Yourself

Question:

The following accounts appear on Red Company’s balance sheets at the beginning and end of Year One:

Figure 17.15

During Year One, equipment with an original cost of $30,000 and accumulated depreciation of $18,000 was sold at a loss of $3,000. What is the cash received on the sale of that equipment?

  1. $9,000
  2. $12,000
  3. $15,000
  4. $16,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice a: $9,000.

Explanation:

The book value of this equipment is $12,000 ($30,000 cost less $18,000 accumulated depreciation). Because the equipment was sold at a loss of $3,000, cash received must have been only $9,000 ($12,000 less $3,000). The transaction can also be recreated through the following entry.

Figure 17.16

The loss is eliminated from income in determining the cash flows from operating activities. If the direct method is used, the loss is simply omitted. If the indirect method is used, the loss (because it is a negative within net income) is added back to net income. The $9,000 cash inflow appears in the investing activity section of the statement of cash flows.

Test Yourself

Question:

The following accounts appear on White Company’s balance sheets at the beginning and end of Year One.

Figure 17.17

One piece of equipment—with an original cost of $30,000 and accumulated depreciation of $18,000—was sold at a loss of $3,000. On a statement of cash flows, what amount should be reported as cash paid for additional equipment bought during the period?

  1. $145,000
  2. $175,000
  3. $205,000
  4. $235,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice c: $205,000.

Explanation:

Based on the information provided, the equipment account decreased by the $30,000 cost of the asset that was sold. The reported balance would have fallen from $220,000 to $190,000. At year’s end, equipment was not reported as $190,000 but rather as $395,000. With no other transactions mentioned, the $205,000 increase from $190,000 to $395,000 must have been created by purchase of additional equipment. This $205,000 acquisition appears in the investing activities section as a cash outflow.

Test Yourself

Question:

The following accounts appear on Blue Company’s balance sheets at the beginning and end of Year One.

Figure 17.18

Equipment with an original cost of $30,000 and accumulated depreciation of $18,000 was sold at a loss of $3,000. What is the depreciation expense recognized during the year and, if the indirect method is used, how is this reported in the statement of cash flows?

  1. $19,000 is subtracted from net income
  2. $28,000 is added to net income
  3. $34,000 is added to net income
  4. $46,000 is subtracted from net income

Answer:

The correct answer is choice c: $34,000 is added to net income.

Explanation:

Because of the sale of equipment, accumulated depreciation drops by $18,000 from $140,000 to $122,000. By the end of Year One, the account is $156,000. Accumulated depreciation only increases as a result of recording depreciation expense. The increase from $122,000 to $156,000 points to an expense of $34,000. Depreciation is a negative noncash item in net income and is removed in presenting cash flows from operating activities. With the indirect method is used, depreciation is added back.

Determining Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Question: For the year ended January 2, 2011, Johnson & Johnson reported a net cash outflow from financing activities of over $4.9 billion. Within the statement of cash flows, this total was broken down into seven specific categories as replicated in Figure 17.19 “Financing Activity Cash Flows Reported by Johnson & Johnson for Year Ended January 2, 2011”.

Figure 17.19 Financing Activity Cash Flows Reported by Johnson & Johnson for Year Ended January 2, 2011

In preparing a statement of cash flows, how does a company such as Johnson & Johnson determine the amounts that were paid and received as a result of its various financing activities?

 

Answer: As has been indicated, financing activities reflect transactions that are not part of a company’s central operations and involve either a liability or a stockholders’ equity account. Johnson & Johnson paid over $5.8 billion in cash dividends in this year and nearly $2.8 billion to repurchase common stock (treasury shares). During the same period, approximately $7.9 billion in cash was received from borrowing money on short-term debt and another $1.1 billion from long-term debt. None of these amounts are directly associated with the company’s operating activities. However, they do involve either liabilities or stockholders’ equity accounts and are appropriately reported as financing activities.

The procedures used in determining the cash amounts to be reported as financing activities are the same as demonstrated above for investing activities. The change in each relevant balance sheet account is analyzed to determine cash payments and receipts. In starting this process, many liabilities such as accounts payable, rent payable, and salaries payable are ignored because they relate only to operating activities. However, the remaining liabilities and all stockholders’ equity accounts must be studied. The recording of individual transactions can be replicated so that the cash effect is isolated.

To illustrate, various account balances for the Hastings Corporation are presented in the schedule included in Figure 17.20 “Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Financing Activities”.

Figure 17.20 Account Balances to Illustrate Cash Flows from Financing Activities

In examining the financial records for the Hastings Corporation for this year, the accountant finds several additional pieces of information:

  1. Cash of $400,000 was borrowed by signing a note payable with a local bank.
  2. Another note payable was paid off prior to its maturity date because of a drop in interest rates.
  3. Treasury stock was reissued to the public for cash.
  4. A cash dividend was declared and distributed.

Once again, the various changes in each account balance can be analyzed to determine the cash flows, this time to be reported as financing activities.

Borrowing on note payable. Complete information about this transaction is available. Hastings Corporation received $400,000 in cash from a bank by signing a note payable. Figure 17.21 “Assumed Journal Entry for Signing of Note Payable” provides the journal entry to record the incurrence of this liability.

Figure 17.21 Assumed Journal Entry for Signing of Note Payable

On a statement of cash flows, this transaction is listed within the financing activities as a $400,000 cash inflow.

Paying note payable. Incurring the $400,000 debt raises the note payable balance from $680,000 to $1,080,000. By the end of the year, this account only shows a total of $876,000. The company’s notes payable have decreased in some way by $204,000 ($1,080,000 less $876,000). According to the information gathered by the accountant, a debt was paid off this year prior to maturity. In addition, the general ledger reports a $25,000 loss on the early extinguishment of a debt. When a bond or note is settled before its maturity, a penalty payment is often required. Once again, the journal entry for this transaction can be recreated by logical reasoning as shown in Figure 17.22 “Assumed Journal Entry for Extinguishment of Debt”.

Figure 17.22 Assumed Journal Entry for Extinguishment of Debt

To balance this entry, cash of $229,000 must have been paid. Spending this amount of money to extinguish a $204,000 liability creates the $25,000 reported loss. The cash outflow of $229,000 relates to a liability and is, thus, listed on the statement of cash flows as a financing activity.

Issuance of treasury stock. This equity balance reflects the cost of all repurchased shares. During the year, the total in the T-account fell by $100,000 from $400,000 to $300,000. Apparently, $100,000 was the cost of the company’s shares reissued to the public. At the same time, the capital in excess of cost balance rose from $120,000 to $160,000. That $40,000 increase in contributed capital must have been created by this issuance since no other stock transaction is mentioned. The shares were sold for more than their purchase price. The journal entry must have looked like the one presented in Figure 17.23 “Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Treasury Stock”.

Figure 17.23 Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Treasury Stock

If the original cost of the treasury stock was $100,000 and $40,000 was added to the capital in excess of cost, the cash inflow from this transaction had to be $140,000. Cash received from the issuance of treasury stock is reported as a financing activity of $140,000 because it relates to a stockholders’ equity account.

Distribution of dividend. A dividend has been paid to the company’s stockholders, but the amount is not shown in the information provided. However, other information is available. Net income for the period was reported as $200,000. Those profits increase retained earnings. As a result, the beginning balance of $454,000 increases to $654,000. Instead, retained earnings only rose to $619,000 by the end of the year. The unexplained drop of $35,000 ($654,000 less $619,000) must have resulted from the payment of the dividend. No other possible reason is given for this reduction. The appropriate journal entry is found in Figure 17.24 “Assumed Journal Entry for Payment of Dividend”. Hence, a cash dividend distribution of $35,000 is shown within the statement of cash flows as a financing activity.

Figure 17.24 Assumed Journal Entry for Payment of Dividend

In this example, four specific financing activity transactions have been identified as created changes in cash. This section of Hasting’s statement of cash flows can be created in Figure 17.25 “Statement of Cash Flows—Financing Activities”. All the sources and uses of this company’s cash (as related to financing activities) are apparent from this schedule. Determining the cash amounts can take some computational logic, but the information is then clear and useful.

Figure 17.25 Statement of Cash Flows—Financing Activities

Test Yourself

Question:

The Abraham Company begins the year with bonds payable having a reported balance of $600,000. The ending balance is $700,000. This company’s income statement for the year reports a gain on extinguishment of bond of $9,000. During the year, new bonds were issued at their face value of $300,000. How much cash was paid for the bonds that were extinguished?

  1. $191,000
  2. $209,000
  3. $291,000
  4. $309,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice a: $191,000.

Explanation:

The issuance of $300,000 in new debt would increase the liability balance from $600,000 to $900,000. However, the account ended the year at only $700,000. The unexplained reduction of $200,000 must have been the face value of the debt paid off ($900,000 less $700,000). Because a gain of $9,000 was recognized on this transaction, the company managed to eliminate the debt by paying only $191,000.

Test Yourself

Question:

The Oregon Company’s total stockholders’ equity on January 1 was $870,000. By the end of the year, stockholders’ equity had risen to $990,000. This company bought treasury stock this year. The shares had originally been issued for $120,000 but were reacquired for $150,000. In addition, Oregon reported net income for the year of $340,000. No other stock transactions occurred but a cash dividend was paid. How much should Oregon report on the statement of cash flows for the dividend distribution?

  1. $50,000
  2. $60,000
  3. $70,000
  4. $80,000

Answer:

The correct answer is choice c: $70,000.

Explanation:

Acquisition of the treasury stock reduces stockholders’ equity by $150,000 while net income increases it by $340,000. If nothing else took place, stockholders’ equity at the end of the period would be $1,060,000 ($870,000 less $150,000 but plus $340,000). Instead, the ending total is actually $990,000. Because only the dividend distribution is left to include, it must have been the amount needed to reduce stockholders’ equity to its final reported total ($70,000 or $1,060,000 less $990,000).

Key Takeaway

In determining cash flows from investing activities, current assets such as inventory, accounts receivable, and prepaid rent are ignored because they relate to operating activities. The accountant then analyzes all changes that have taken place in each remaining asset such as buildings and equipment. Hypothetical journal entries can be recreated to replicate the impact of each transaction and lead to the amount of cash involved. For financing activities, a similar process is applied. Liabilities such as accounts payable, interest payable, and salaries payable are not excluded; they only impact operating activities. Monetary changes in the remaining liabilities (notes and bonds payable, for example) and all stockholders’ equity accounts are analyzed. Again, the journal entries that were recorded to report individual events can be recreated so that the cash amounts are known. Once all changes in these accounts have been determined, the various sections of the statement of cash flows can be produced.

Talking with a Real Investing Pro (Continued)

Following is the conclusion of our interview with Kevin G. Burns.

 

Question: Many investors watch the movement of a company’s reported net income and earnings per share and make investment decisions based on increases or decreases. Other investors argue that the amount of cash flows generated by operating activities is really a more useful figure. When you make investing decisions are you more inclined to look at net income or the cash flows generated by operating activities?

Kevin Burns: As I have said previously, net income and earnings per share have a lot of subjectivity to them. Unfortunately, cash flow information can be badly misused also. A lot of investors seem fascinated by the calculation of EBITDA which is the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. I guess you could say that determining EBITDA is like blending net income and cash flows. But, to me, interest and taxes are real cash expenses so why exclude them? The biggest mistake I ever made as an investor or financial advisor was putting too much credence in EBITDA as a technique for valuing a business. Earnings are earnings and that is important information. A lot of analysts now believe that different cash flow models should be constructed for different industries. If you look around, you can find cable industry cash flow models, theater cash flow models, entertainment industry cash flow models, and the like. I think that is a lot of nonsense. You have to obtain a whole picture to know if an investment is worthwhile. While cash generation is important in creating that picture so are actual earnings and a whole lot of other financial information found in a company’s annual report.

17.5 Appendix: Comprehensive Illustration—Statement of Cash Flows

The Creation of a Complete Statement of Cash Flows

Question: All three sections of the statement of cash flows are presented in this chapter but in separate coverage. Now, through a comprehensive illustration, these categories will be combined into a formal and complete statement.

The following information has been uncovered within the internal records maintained by the Ashe Corporation for Year Seven. The company is a small organization that was incorporated several years ago in the western part of North Carolina.

A few of the significant financial events that occurred during the current year are as follows:

  • Land that had cost Ashe $7,000 several years ago was sold to an outside buyer.
  • A building was also sold but for $210,000 in cash. This property had an original cost of $230,000. Accumulated depreciation to date on this building was $30,000. This building was replaced with a new purchase made for cash during the year.
  • Equipment was purchased for $44,000 in cash to replace other equipment that was sold at the beginning of the year.
  • Additional cash of $110,000 was borrowed on a note payable.
  • Common stock was issued to an investor for cash of $5,000.
  • A cash dividend was declared and paid to the owners near the end of the year.

The accountant for the Ashe Corporation is now attempting to prepare the company’s first complete set of financial statements as part of an application for a new loan. As part of this process, the accountant has created informal balance sheets (Figure 17.26 “Ashe Corporation—Beginning and Ending Balance Sheets for Year Seven”) and an income statement (Figure 17.27 “Ashe Corporation—Income Statement for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven”).

Figure 17.26 Ashe Corporation—Beginning and Ending Balance Sheets for Year Seven

Figure 17.27 Ashe Corporation—Income Statement for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven

A statement of cash flows is now needed for the Ashe Corporation. As shown in Figure 17.26 “Ashe Corporation—Beginning and Ending Balance Sheets for Year Seven”, cash increased from $1,000 to $27,000 during the course of this year. That $26,000 change should be explained. How does a company construct an entire statement of cash flows? Application of the indirect method for presenting operating activities is so prevalent that company officials have decided to use it.

Operating Activities

Answer:

In both the direct and indirect methods, net cash flows from operating activities are derived by following several specific steps:

  1. Start with net income, either the balance for the period (the indirect method) or the income statement as a whole (the direct method). Because the indirect method is being used here, the preparation of the operating activities section begins with Ashe Corporation’s reported net income of $40,000 (from Figure 17.27 “Ashe Corporation—Income Statement for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven”).
  2. Remove noncash expenses. Here, depreciation must be eliminated. This year, the reported amount is $70,000 (buildings) and $30,000 (equipment). As expenses, depreciation is a negative within net income. To remove these two negative amounts, they are added back to the net income figure. Negatives are removed by the inclusion of a positive.
  3. Remove nonoperating gains and losses because they relate to either investing activities or financing activities. Consequently, both the loss on the sale of land ($5,000) and the gain on sale of a building ($10,000) are removed. Neither relates to an operating activity. The loss (a negative) is eliminated by an addition to net income while the gain (a positive) is offset by means of a subtraction.
  4. Convert the remaining revenue and expense balances from accrual accounting to cash accounting by adjusting for changes occurring during the year in related balance sheet connector accounts. The identity of these connector accounts and the amount of each change is reported in Figure 17.28 “Ashe Corporation—Change in Connector Accounts”. The increases and decreases were computed from the beginning and ending balance sheets shown previously in Figure 17.26 “Ashe Corporation—Beginning and Ending Balance Sheets for Year Seven”.

Figure 17.28 Ashe Corporation—Change in Connector Accounts

The change in each of these six connector accounts—accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, wages payable, interest payable, and taxes payable—is factored into the computation of cash flows from operating activities to arrive at the actual effect on cash for the period. In this way, the accrual accounting figures reported on the income statement are changed to their cash equivalents.

Accounts receivable—increase of $15,000. A receivables balance can only rise in this manner when more sales are made on credit than cash is collected. The reduction in the cash received causes the receivable to increase. This decrease in cash collections is reflected by subtracting the $15,000 from net income.

Inventory—decrease of $4,000. The inventory balance dropped, which indicates that less inventory was bought this year than was sold. Fewer purchases take less money, keeping the cash balance high. The decrease in inventory and its impact on cash are reported within operating activities through an addition to net income.

Accounts payable—increase of $4,000. Liabilities increase because more debt is acquired than the amount of cash that is paid. Slowness of payment increases accounts payable but also helps keep the company’s cash balance high. This increase in accounts payable is added to net income as another step in arriving at the cash flows from operating activities.

Wages payable—increase of $3,000; interest payable—increase of $1,000. The balance of both of these accrued liabilities went up during this year. Once again, as with accounts payable, an increase in a liability indicates a reduction in payments. This saving of cash is shown when using the indirect method by adding the increases in wages payable and interest payable to net income.

Taxes payable—decrease of $1,000. A liability goes down because cash payments are made that reduce the obligation. However, those payments also shrink the amount of cash held. This effect is mirrored by subtracted the decrease in the liability from net income.

The steps for determining cash flows generated by operating activities have been completed (using the indirect method), and this part of the statement of cash flows can be prepared as shown in Figure 17.29 “Ashe Corporation—Cash Flows from Operating Activities for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven (Indirect Method)”.

Figure 17.29 Ashe Corporation—Cash Flows from Operating Activities for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven (Indirect Method)

As can be seen by comparing Figure 17.29 “Ashe Corporation—Cash Flows from Operating Activities for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven (Indirect Method)” to the company’s income statement (Figure 17.27 “Ashe Corporation—Income Statement for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven”), cash generated by operating activities ($131,000) is considerably higher than the net income reported for that same period ($40,000). Such differences are not uncommon in the business world especially since depreciation is often a large expense that does not require cash.

Investing Activities

After accounting for operating activities, only three asset accounts remain to be examined (along with accumulated depreciation balances where appropriate): land, buildings, and equipment. The accountant analyzes each individually and attempts to recreate the transactions that brought about the various changes during the year.

Land decreased by $7,000 ($21,000 to $14,000). The information provided by the accountant states that land costing $7,000 was sold but does not indicate the amount of cash received. However, the income statement discloses a $5,000 loss on the sale of land. If land costing $7,000 is sold at a loss of $5,000, only $2,000 in cash is received. The journal entry shown in Figure 17.30 “Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Land” was apparently recorded by Ashe Corporation for this transaction. Land is an asset, so this $2,000 inflow of cash will be reported as an investing activity.

Figure 17.30 Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Land

Buildings increased by $30,000 ($390,000 to $420,000). According to the introductory information, one building with a cost of $230,000 but a net book value of $200,000 (related accumulated depreciation was identified as $30,000) was sold during this year for $210,000. The company received $10,000 more than net book value which creates the $10,000 gain that appears on the company’s income statement. Because all account balances are known here, the journal entry made by the Ashe Corporation can be replicated in Figure 17.31 “Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Building”. This transaction will be listed as a $210,000 cash inflow within investing activities on the statement of cash flows.

Figure 17.31 Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Building

The entry made in Figure 17.31 “Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Building” does not fully explain the monetary change appearing in the buildings account during this period. This sale drops that account from $390,000 to $160,000 (because of the $230,000 reduction in cost). However, the final balance for the year was not $160,000 but rather $420,000, an increase of $260,000. The introductory information does indicate that a new building was acquired as a replacement. Without mention of any other building transaction, the assumption must be made that this asset was acquired for $260,000 through the entry presented in Figure 17.32 “Assumed Journal Entry for Purchase of Building”. The cash payment will be disclosed on the statement of cash flows as a $260,000 investing activity outflow.

Figure 17.32 Assumed Journal Entry for Purchase of Building

Equipment increased by $14,000 ($36,000 to $50,000). The information provided by the company’s accountant states that one piece of equipment was purchased during the year for $44,000 in cash. This transaction is recorded in Figure 17.33 “Assumed Journal Entry for Purchase of Equipment” and identifies another cash outflow to be reported within the investing activities.

Figure 17.33 Assumed Journal Entry for Purchase of Equipment

This journal entry does not entirely explain the change that occurred in the equipment account. The beginning balance of $36,000 grew to $80,000 as a result of this $44,000 purchase. Yet, the ending balance was just $50,000. Apparently, during the year, another $30,000 reduction ($80,000 less $50,000) took place. Equipment accounts decrease as the result of a sale or some other type of disposal. Equipment was sold this period; its cost must have been the cause of this $30,000 decrease.

In recording the disposal of a long-lived asset, removal of any related accumulated depreciation is also necessary. For the equipment owned by Ashe Corporation, beginning accumulated depreciation was $17,000—a figure that increased by $30,000 due to the depreciation for that year (to a balance of $47,000). However, the ending accumulated depreciation account shows a balance of only $20,000. Another change in this contra account, a reduction of $27,000 ($47,000 less $20,000), still needs to be explained. This figure is the accumulated depreciation for the equipment that was sold. That balance was removed in recording the disposal of this asset.

Because no gain or loss on the disposal of equipment is reported in the income statement, the amount received must have been equal to the $3,000 net book value of the asset ($30,000 less $27,000). With that assumption, the journal entry shown in Figure 17.34 “Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Equipment” can be constructed. The $3,000 collection will be reported as a cash inflow from an investing activity.

Figure 17.34 Assumed Journal Entry for Sale of Equipment

All changes in the land, buildings, and equipment accounts have now been examined. Each individual transaction was recreated and the change in cash calculated. The investing activity section of the statement of cash flows can then be prepared in Figure 17.35 “Ashe Corporation—Cash Flows from Investing Activities for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven” based on the information that has been gathered.

Figure 17.35 Ashe Corporation—Cash Flows from Investing Activities for Year Ended December 31, Year Seven

Financing Activities

Only three accounts remain unexamined: notes payable, capital stock, and retained earnings. They are either liabilities or stockholders’ equity accounts and, thus, lead to financing activities.

Notes payable increased by $10,000 ($120,000 to $130,000). The information gathered from the company disclosed the signing of a note payable for $110,000 in cash. The journal entry is made in Figure 17.36 “Assumed Journal Entry for Signing of Note Payable”. This transaction is obviously an inflow of that amount of cash that will be reported as a financing activity.

Figure 17.36 Assumed Journal Entry for Signing of Note Payable

According to the beginning and ending balance sheets, notes payable did not actually increase by $110,000 but only by $10,000. Thus, another transaction must have taken place that reduced this liability by $100,000. Except in unusual situations, notes payable only decrease because of cash payments. Because no gain or loss on extinguishment of debt is reported in the income statement, Ashe Corporation must have paid exactly $100,000 to retire that same amount of debt. The journal entry is shown in Figure 17.37 “Assumed Journal Entry for Extinguishment of Note Payable” and the accountant has located another financing activity cash flow (a $100,000 payment).

Figure 17.37 Assumed Journal Entry for Extinguishment of Note Payable

The recording of this second transaction (Figure 17.37 “Assumed Journal Entry for Extinguishment of Note Payable”) leads to the appropriate change in notes payable (the $10,000 account increase was created by $110,000 in additional borrowing and a $100,000 decrease payment).

Capital stock increased by $5,000 ($50,000 to $55,000). The information provided by the accountant states that Ashe Corporation issued stock to an investor for $5,000. This contribution created the change seen in this account, which is recorded in Figure 17.38 “Assumed Journal Entry for Issuance of Capital Stock”. The business received this money and must report a financing activity cash inflow of $5,000. No other stock transactions are indicated for Ashe Corporation.

Figure 17.38 Assumed Journal Entry for Issuance of Capital Stock

Retained earnings increased by $9,000 ($140,000 to $149,000). This final balance sheet account increased by $40,000 because of the net income earned by Ashe Corporation as reported on its income statement. At the end of the year, this amount is closed into retained earnings. The cash flows relating to net income have already been presented within operating activities.

To create the overall change of $9,000, retained earnings must have also declined by $31,000. As mentioned several times in this textbook, other than net income, retained earnings are changed by virtually only one other event: the distribution of dividends. The information provided by the accountant mentions that a dividend was paid this year. That dividend must have caused the remaining $31,000 drop. Net income of $40,000 and a dividend distribution of $31,000 provide the reported increase in retained earnings of $9,000. The dividend entry is presented in Figure 17.39 “Assumed Journal Entry for Payment of Cash Dividend”.

Figure 17.39 Assumed Journal Entry for Payment of Cash Dividend

With this final financing activity, an entire statement of cash flows can be created for the Ashe Corporation in Figure 17.40 “Ashe Corporation—Statement of Cash Flows Year Ended December 31, Year Seven”. All the transactions that affected cash during the current period are included within one of the three categories. Investors and other interested parties can gain a complete picture of the cash results of operations as well as the investing and financing decisions made by management. This portrait provides an excellent complement to the income statement, statement of retained earnings, and balance sheet.

Figure 17.40 Ashe Corporation—Statement of Cash Flows Year Ended December 31, Year Seven

17.6 End-of-Chapter Exercises

Questions

  1. James Hartwell is preparing financial statements for the Ashton Corporation. Hartwell wants these statements to conform to U.S. GAAP so they are more credible with decision makers. Only a balance sheet has been prepared so far. Is Hartwell required to prepare a statement of cash flows according to U.S. GAAP?
  2. As of December 31, Year One, the Midlothian Corporation reports “cash” of $318,455. What might be included in this figure?
  3. As of December 31, Year One, the Midlothian Corporation reports “cash equivalents” of $74,329. What might be included in this figure?
  4. Sashya Douglas is analyzing a statement of cash flows reported by a company that has securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Is the direct method or the indirect method more likely to be seen? How can Douglas tell whether the direct method or the indirect method has been applied?
  5. What are the three sections of a statement of cash flows? What types of transactions are included in each of these categories?
  6. During the current year, the Durham Corporation issued 10,000 shares of $1 par value common stock with a stock market value of $18 per share in exchange for 2 acres of land. How is this transaction reported on a statement of cash flows?
  7. A company reports rent expense for the current year of $74,000. Why is this figure not the same as the cash paid by the company for rent?
  8. The Ames Corporation reports salary expense of $875,000. During that period of time, the salary payable balance rose by $39,000. How much cash did the company pay its employees this period?
  9. The Lewiston Corporation reported cost of goods sold of $376,000 for Year One. During that period, its inventory went up by $72,000 while its accounts payable fell by $19,000. How much cash did the company pay for inventory purchases during Year One?
  10. The Clarkson Corporation reported depreciation expense of $107,000 in Year One. In a statement of cash flows where the direct method is applied, how is this expense reported? If the indirect method is applied, how is this expense reported?
  11. For the year ended December 31, Year One, the Maeburry Corporation reports an $85,000 gain on the sale of land. Several acres attached to a warehouse were sold during the year for cash. If cash flows from operating activities are reported by the direct method, how is this gain reported? If the indirect method is applied, how is this gain reported?
  12. During the current year, the Leftowich Company reported that its accounts receivable had gone down while salary payable went up. If the indirect method is applied to determine cash flows from operating activities, how are these changes shown?
  13. The Central Western Corporation reports its cash flows from operating activities by means of the indirect method. In the current year, the company’s prepaid rent account increased by $11,000. At the same time, its accounts payable balance fell by $23,000. If the indirect method is used to present cash flows from operating activities, how are these two changes reported?
  14. The Harbaugh Corporation paid a $39,000 cash dividend this year but also received $11,000 as a dividend from one of the company’s investments. If U.S. GAAP is applied, how are these two transactions reported within a statement of cash flows? If IFRS is applied, how are these two transactions reported within a statement of cash flows?
  15. The Anna Company sells a building with an original cost of $950,000 and accumulated depreciation of $400,000 to another company at a gain of $18,000. What reporting is necessary on a statement of cash flows?
  16. During the current year, a company repurchases 10,000 shares of common stock that were originally issued several years ago for $32 per share. The stock is acquired this year for $37 per share. Later, in the year, 3,000 of these shares are reissued to the public for $40 each. How are these transactions reported in the statement of cash flows for this period?

True or False

  1. ____ A company reports cash equivalents as an asset. The term “cash equivalents” has the same meaning as “cash.”
  2. ____ If the cash flows from operating activities begins with “cash collected from customers,” the indirect method is being applied.
  3. ____ When the direct method of reporting cash flows from operating activities is applied, depreciation expense is added to net income.
  4. ____ When the indirect method of reporting cash flows from operating activities is applied, a loss on the sale of equipment is added to net income.
  5. ____ The Walsingham Corporation reported rent expense of $75,000 this year. At the same time, prepaid rent increased by $9,000. The company paid $84,000 in rent this period.
  6. ____ The Trigger Company reported rent expense of $43,000 this year. At the same time, rent payable increases by $9,000. The company paid $52,000 in rent this period.
  7. ____ A company reports net income for the current year of $200,000. During that year, depreciation expense of $30,000 was reported as well as an $8,000 gain on the cash sale of a building. In addition, accounts receivable increased by $9,000. The net cash flows from operating activities for the period was $213,000.
  8. ____ A company reports cost of goods sold of $500,000. During that period, inventory fell by $34,000 while accounts payable rose by $9,000. The company paid $475,000 in cash this period for the purchase of merchandise.
  9. ____ Purchasing treasury stock is an example of a financing activity.
  10. ____ Significant investing and financing activities not involving cash still need to be disclosed.
  11. ____ During the current year, the Baxter Corporation paid $100,000 on a long-term note payable and $13,000 in related interest expense. According to U.S. GAAP, these two payments must be shown in separate sections of a statement of cash flows.
  12. ____ During the current year, the Frances Corporation paid $200,000 on a long-term note payable and $22,000 in related interest expense. According to IFRS, these two payments must be shown in separate sections of a statement of cash flows.
  13. ____ Equipment costing $320,000 but with accumulated depreciation of $240,000 was sold at a loss of $22,000. The company reports a cash inflow of $58,000 as a financing activity.

Multiple Choice

  1. Where does cash that is collected from customers appear on a statement of cash flows?

    1. Operating activities section
    2. Investing activities section
    3. Financing activities section
    4. Capital activities section
  2. Fritz Corporation began the year with $900,000 in accounts receivable. During the year, sales revenue totaled $7,000,000. Fritz ended the year with $750,000 in accounts receivable. How much cash did Fritz collect from its customers during the year?

    1. $6,850,000
    2. $7,150,000
    3. $7,750,000
    4. $7,900,000
  3. The Willson Company pays off one of its bonds before it came due because interest rates have fallen rather significantly. Where does the cash paid to redeem a bond payable appear on a company’s statement of cash flows?

    1. Operating activities section
    2. Investing activities section
    3. Financing activities section
    4. Capital activities section
  4. Which of the following is true about the reporting of cash flows from operating activities?

    1. Most companies use the indirect method although FASB prefers the direct method.
    2. Most companies use the indirect method because it is preferred by FASB.
    3. Most companies use the direct method because it is preferred by FASB.
    4. Most companies use the direct method, although FASB prefers the indirect method.
  5. During the current year, Rafael Corporation distributed dividends of $23,000, received cash by signing a note payable of $105,000, purchased a piece of equipment for $29,000 in cash, and received dividend income of $12,000. What is reported as Rafael’s net cash inflow from financing activities for the year?

    1. $53,000
    2. $65,000
    3. $82,000
    4. $94,000
  6. Happy Toy Company began Year Nine with $1,000 in inventory and $4,500 in accounts payable. During the year, Happy Toy incurred cost of goods sold of $25,000. Happy Toy ended Year Nine with $2,700 in inventory and $3,800 in accounts payable. How much cash did Happy Toy pay for its merchandise purchases during Year Nine?

    1. $22,600
    2. $24,000
    3. $26,000
    4. $27,400
  7. Crystal Bell Company generated $48,900 in net income during the year. Included in this number are depreciation expense of $13,000 and a gain on the sale of equipment of $4,000. In addition, accounts receivable increased by $16,000, inventory decreased by $5,090, accounts payable decreased $4,330, and interest payable increased $1,200. Based on the above information, what is Crystal Bell’s net cash inflow from operating activities?

    1. $43,860
    2. $48,900
    3. $54,120
    4. $71,940
  8. Transportation Inc. incurred rent expense of $98,000 during the year on a large warehouse. During that same period, prepaid rent increased by $34,000. How much cash did Transportation pay for rent during the year?

    1. $34,000
    2. $64,000
    3. $98,000
    4. $132,000
  9. The Robious Company presents cash flows from operating activities by the direct method. On its income statement for the current year, Robious reports rent expense of $60,000. This figure relates to two different buildings in use by the company. For Building One, prepaid rent went up by $9,000 during the year. For Building Two, rent payable went down by $5,000. How much cash did the company pay this year for rent?

    1. $46,000
    2. $56,000
    3. $64,000
    4. $74,000
  10. A building is bought on October 1, Year One, for $500,000 in cash. It is depreciated using the straight-line method over an expected life of twenty years. A residual value of $20,000 is anticipated. The half-year convention is applied. On April 1, Year Four, the building is sold for cash at a loss of $13,000. Which of the following appears on the company’s Year Four statement of cash flows?

    1. Investing activities cash inflow of $395,000
    2. Investing activities cash inflow of $415,000
    3. Investing activities cash inflow of $428,000
    4. Investing activities cash inflow of $441,000
  11. The Hamster Company determines its cash flows from operating activities by the indirect method. Net income is reported for the current period as $400,000, which included depreciation expense of $70,000 and a gain on sale of land of $30,000. In addition, accounts receivable went down $2,000 during the year while accounts payable went up $7,000. What is the amount of cash generated by the Hamster Company’s operating activities this year?

    1. $431,000
    2. $435,000
    3. $445,000
    4. $449,000
  12. In Year One, the Karsenti Company reported net income of $30,000. Among many other accounts, the income statement included sales revenue of $500,000, cost of goods sold of $300,000, depreciation expense−equipment of $50,000, and a gain on sale of equipment of $23,000. Included on the balance sheet were a number of accounts such as bonds payable (increased $23,000), accounts payable, (decreased $6,000), retained earnings (increased $11,000), equipment (decreased $70,000), accumulated depreciation−equipment (increased $29,000), accounts receivable (decreased $17,000), and inventory (increased $3,000). No capital stock was issued or reacquired during the year. How much cash did this company spend on inventory during the year?

    1. $291,000
    2. $297,000
    3. $303,000
    4. $309,000
  13. Use the same information as presented in problem 12. Using the indirect method, how much cash did Karsenti generate this year from its operating activities?

    1. $57,000
    2. $65,000
    3. $69,000
    4. $71,000
  14. Use the same information as presented in problem 12. One piece of equipment was sold by Karsenti this year for cash, and none was bought. Which of the following is true about this sale of equipment?

    1. It is an investing activity cash inflow of $49,000.
    2. It is an investing activity cash inflow of $63,000.
    3. It is an investing activity cash inflow of $72,000.
    4. It is an investing activity cash inflow of $93,000.
  15. Use the same information as presented in problem 12. Karsenti paid a cash dividend to shareholders this year. How should this distribution be shown on a statement of cash flows?

    1. Operating activity cash outflow of $19,000.
    2. Investing activity cash outflow of $30,000.
    3. Operating activity cash outflow of $30,000.
    4. Financing activity cash outflow of $19,000.

Video Problems

Professor Joe Hoyle discusses the answers to these two problems at the links that are indicated. After formulating your answers, watch each video to see how Professor Hoyle answers these questions.

  1. Your roommate is an English major. The roommate’s parents own a chain of ice cream shops located throughout Florida. One day, while the two of you are taking a study break, your roommate asks you the following question: “I was recently looking at the financial statements my parents prepare for their business. I happened to see the statement of cash flows. I studied it more carefully because I was interested in the amount of cash that the business has been making. One of the biggest positive numbers on the entire statement was depreciation expense. It was listed right there under operating activities with a big plus sign. I don’t understand. How are they able to get so much cash from depreciation? I understand how they get cash by selling ice cream, but how does a company get that cash from something called depreciation?” How would you respond?

  2. Your uncle and two friends started a small office supply store several years ago. The company has grown and now has several large locations. Your uncle knows that you are taking a financial accounting class and asks you the following question: “We’ve been having cash flow problems recently. We are making roughly the same net income as in the past, but our cash reserves are shrinking. How can we possibly be selling so much merchandise and making a reasonable profit and still see our cash dwindling? This makes no sense to me. I’m mystified.” How would you respond?

Problems

  1. For each of the following transactions, indicate whether the cash flows are reported in the operating activities section of the statement of cash flows, the investing activities section, or the financing activities section.

    1. Issuance of bonds payable
    2. Cash paid for interest
    3. Cash collected from customers
    4. Paid dividends
    5. Sold equipment for cash
    6. Issued preferred stock for cash
    7. Cash paid for inventory purchases
    8. Purchased a small percentage of the ownership shares of another company
    9. Cash received from dividend income
  2. For each of the following transactions, indicate what is reported on the statement of cash flows and the section in which it is listed. Assume the indirect method is used to present the cash flows from operating activities.

    1. Equipment costing $33,000 but with accumulated depreciation of $14,000 is sold for cash creating a reported gain of $5,000.
    2. A note is signed at the bank on a $200,000 loan.
    3. A building with a cost of $700,000 but a net book value of only $111,000 is destroyed by fire.
    4. A new truck is acquired for $56,000 by signing a long-term note payable.
    5. A new owner invests cash of $49,000 into the business in exchange for 10,000 shares of $1 par value common stock.
    6. The first payment of $11,000 is made on the truck bought in problem 2(d). Of that total, $10,000 is paid on the note with the rest paid as interest.
    7. A building costing $530,000 with accumulated depreciation of $170,000 is sold for cash at a loss of $15,000.
  3. The Starmer Corporation begins the current year with equipment costing $900,000. This figure rises to $1.2 million by the end of the period. Accumulated depreciation was $200,000 on the first of the year but $260,000 at the end. During the year, the following events took place:

    • Equipment costing $450,000 was bought by signing a note for $180,000 and paying cash for the remainder.
    • Depreciation expense recognized for the year on equipment was $110,000.
    • Equipment was sold during the year for cash; a gain of $13,000 was recognized.

    In connection with this company’s equipment account, what will be the effects reported on the statement of cash flows?

  4. Roy Company generated sales during Year Two of $120,000. Roy began the year with $56,000 in accounts receivable and ended the year with $79,000 in accounts receivable. Determine the amount of cash Roy collected from its customers during Year Two.
  5. Below are figures found in the beginning and ending trial balances for the DeFaul Company for Year Three.

      1/1/3 12/31/3
    Equipment $420,000 debit $460,000 debit
    Accumulated depreciation $350,000 credit $370,000 credit
    Note payable $320,000 credit $350,000 credit
    Loss on sale of equipment $24,000 debit

    Additional information:

    • A $50,000 cash payment was made on the note payable this year as well as a $20,000 payment for interest expense.
    • New equipment was bought this year by signing a note payable and making a cash payment.
    • Equipment costing $100,000 but with a net book value of $60,000 was sold for cash.
    • The company uses the indirect method for presenting its cash flows from operating activities.
    1. Based on the previous information, this company has two cash flows that need to be reported as investing activities. What are they and what monetary amount should be included?
    2. Based on the previous information, this company has one cash flow that needs to be reported as a financing activity. What is it and what monetary amount should be included?
  6. The Pasley Company prepares an income statement that reports cost of goods sold of $320,000, rent expense of $30,000, and salary expense of $90,000. During the year, prepaid rent went up $5,000, accounts payable went down $4,000, salary payable went up $3,000, and inventory went down $2,000.

    1. What is the amount of cash the company spent this year to purchase inventory?
    2. What is the amount of cash the company spent this year on rent?
    3. What is the amount of cash the company paid this year to its employees as salaries?
  7. Jamison Company’s income statement for 20X6 is below.

    Figure 17.41 Jamison Company Income Statement as of 12/31/X6

    Figure 17.42 Selected Balance Sheet Accounts from the Beginning and End of 20X6

    Determine Jamison’s net cash inflow or outflow from operating activities for this year using both the direct and indirect methods.

  8. The following information is found in the year-end financial statements reported by Barney Corporation.

    Figure 17.43 Income Statement

    Figure 17.44 Current Asset and Liability Accounts

    Prepare the operating activities section of a statement of cash flows by means of the indirect method.

  9. For each of the following transactions, indicate what is shown on a statement of cash flows as either an investing activity, a financing activity, or an operating activity. What kind of activity is it? Is it a cash inflow or outflow? How much cash is reported?

    1. One thousand shares of $1 per share par value common stock is issued for $19,000.
    2. A cash dividend of $16,000 is distributed to stockholders.
    3. A cash dividend of $9,000 is collected from another company because of the ownership of shares of stock.
    4. A $7,000 payment is made on a long-term note payable with $6,000 reducing the principal and the remaining $1,000 for interest.
    5. A building is sold with a historical cost of $400,000 and accumulated depreciation of $210,000 for cash at a loss of $17,000.
  10. A company creates the following operating activities section of its statement of cash flows.

    Figure 17.45 Company Prepared Operating Activities Cash Flows

    What was the correct amount of cash that was received during this period from the company’s operating activities?

  11. A company computed its cash payments for rent expense for the most recent period as $127,000, as shown next. What was the correct amount of cash the company paid for rent?

    Figure 17.46 Company Computed Payments for Rent

  12. Killian Corporation had several transactions during the year that impacted long-term assets, long-term liabilities, and stockholders’ equity. Determine if the cash amount in each of the following transactions is shown as an investing activity, as a financing activity, or as neither.

    Figure 17.47 Determination of Cash Flow Balances

  13. Ruthers Corporation began business on January 1, 20X5. The financial statements for Ruthers’s first year are given here. Because 20X5 is the first year in business, the balance sheet accounts have no beginning balances.

    Figure 17.48 Ruthers Corporation Income Statement as of 12/31/X5

    Figure 17.49 Ruthers Corporation Balance Sheet 12/31/X5

    Additional Information:

    1. Ruthers purchased land for $14,000 cash.
    2. Common stock was issued for $4,500 in cash.
    3. A note payable was signed for $10,000 cash.

    Prepare Ruthers’s statement of cash flows for 20X5 using the indirect method of calculating cash flows from operating activities.

  14. Looney Company is in the process of preparing financial statements for the year ended 12/31/X9. The income statement as of 12/31/X9 and comparative balance sheets are presented here.

    Figure 17.50 Looney Company Income Statement as of 12/31/X9

    Figure 17.51 Looney Company Balance Sheet December 31, 20X9 and 20X8

    The following additional information has been assembled by Looney’s accounting department:

    1. Equipment was purchased for $90 in cash.
    2. Long-term debt of $70 was issued for cash.
    3. Looney issued eleven shares of common stock for cash during 20X9.

    Prepare Looney’s statement of cash flows as of 12/31/X9 using the direct method.

  15. The following information relates to Henrich’s Hat Store Inc. for the year ended December 31, 20X8.

    Figure 17.52 Henrich’s Hat Store Inc. Balance Sheet, December 31, 20X8

    Figure 17.53 Henrich’s Hat Store Inc. Income Statement for the Year Ended December 31, 20X8

    Other information:

    1. The company purchased a building and fixtures with cash during the year, but none were sold.
    2. Dividends of $170,000 were declared and paid.
    3. Cash proceeds from the sale of common stock totaled $520,000.
    4. Land was purchased for $300,000 cash.

    Prepare the statement of cash flows for Henrich’s Hat Store Inc. for the year ended December 31, 20X8 using the indirect method of calculating cash flows from operations.

Comprehensive Problem

This problem has carried through several chapters, building in difficulty. Hopefully, it has allowed students to continually practice skills and knowledge learned in previous chapters.

In Chapter 16 “In a Set of Financial Statements, What Information Is Conveyed about Shareholders’ Equity?”, financial statements for April were prepared for Webworks. They are included here as a starting point for the required recording for May.

This will be your final month of preparing financial statements for Webworks. This month, the statement of cash flows will be added. To simplify the construction of that statement, fewer transactions than usual are included.

Figure 17.54 Webworks Financial Statements

Figure 17.55

Figure 17.56

The following events occur during May:

  1. Webworks starts and completes twelve more sites and bills clients for $9,000.
  2. Webworks purchases supplies worth $140 on account.
  3. At the beginning of March, Webworks had twenty-two keyboards costing $121 each and twenty-eight flash drives costing $25 each. Webworks uses periodic FIFO to cost its inventory.
  4. On account, Webworks purchases eighty-three keyboards for $122 each and ninety flash drives for $26 each.
  5. Webworks sells 98 keyboards for $14,700 and 100 of the flash drives for $3,000 cash.
  6. Webworks collects $9,000 in accounts receivable.
  7. Webworks pays its $500 rent.
  8. Webworks pays off $14,000 of its accounts payable.
  9. Webworks sells all of its shares of QRS stock for $14 per share.
  10. Webworks pays Juan $750 for his work during the first three weeks of May.
  11. Webworks pays off its salaries payable from April.
  12. Webworks pays the owners (Leon Jackson and Nancy Po) a salary of $4,000 each.
  13. Webworks’s note payable permits early payment with no penalty. Leon Jackson and Nancy Po decide to use some of their excess cash and pay off the note and interest payable. The note was paid at the beginning of May, so no interest accrued during May.
  14. Webworks pays taxes of $740 in cash.

    Required:

    1. Prepare journal entries for the previous events.
    2. Post the journal entries to T-accounts.
    3. Prepare an unadjusted trial balance for Webworks for May.
    4. Prepare adjusting entries for the following, and post them to your T-accounts.
  15. Webworks owes Juan Marcon (an employee) $200 for his work during the last week of May.
  16. Webworks receives an electric bill for $450. Webworks will pay the bill in June.
  17. Webworks determines that it has $70 worth of supplies remaining at the end of May.
  18. Webworks is continuing to accrue bad debts at 10 percent of accounts receivable.
  19. Webworks continues to depreciate its equipment over four years and its furniture over five years, using the straight-line method.
  20. The license agreement should be amortized over its one-year life.
  21. Record cost of goods sold.

    1. Prepare an adjusted trial balance.
    2. Prepare financial statements, including the statement of cash flows, for May. Prepare the operating section using the indirect method.

Research Assignment

Assume that you take a job as a summer employee for an investment advisory service. One of the partners for that firm is currently looking at the possibility of investing in Caribou Coffee Company Inc. The partner is interested in knowing how much money the company has available for growth. The partner also wants to know how much growth has taken place in recent years. The partner asks you to look at the 2010 financial statements for Caribou Coffee by following this path:

  • Go to http://www.cariboucoffee.com.
  • At the bottom of this screen, click on “Our Company.”
  • In the upper right side of the next screen, click on “Investors.”
  • On the left side of the next screen, click on “Financial Reports.”
  • On the next screen, click on “2010 Annual Report” to download.
  • Scroll to page 26 and find the company’s statement of operations (income statement) for the years ended January 2, 2011, and January 3, 2010. Note the amount of net income reported for each year.
  • Scroll down to page 28 and, for each of these two years, note the amount of cash inflow generated by operating activities. Then, look under Investing Activities for the cash outflows labeled as payments for property and equipment.
  1. What net income is reported for each of these two years? Scan the statements of operation to determine any obvious causes for the difference in these two years.
  2. What is the net cash inflow from operating activities for each of these two years? How do each of these numbers compare to the net income figures reported for the same periods of time? Scan the statement of cash flows to determine any obvious causes for the difference in these two years.
  3. In each year, how much cash was spent as payments on property and equipment? What does that say about the growth of the company?