The following comment appeared in the financial press: “Inadequate financial disclosure, particularly with respect to how management views the future and its role in the marketplace, has always been a stone in the shoe. After all, if you don’t know how a company views the future, how can you judge the worth of its corporate strategy?” What are some arguments for reporting earnings forecasts?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Earnings forecasting should be done with proper guidance because figures can be missed, controlled, or misunderstood, so they should be given their due consistency.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Financial Disclosure

Financial disclosures refer to the framework under which one or more categories of open authorities in a given nation are required by law to disclose data about their resources and business practices.

02

Explaining arguments for reporting earning forecast  

Arguments for providing earnings forecasts are as follows:

a) Investment decisions are made on the basis of future wishes; in this way, information about the future encourages better choices.

b) The figures are already transmitted carelessly. This circumstance should be directed at ensuring that estimates are available to all financial experts.

c) The present circumstances change so rapidly that the authentic information is not satisfactory for forecasting.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In calculating inventory turnover, why is cost of goods sold used as the numerator? As the inventory turnover increases, what increasing risk does the business assume?

Edna Millay Inc. is a manufacturer of electronic components and accessories with total assets of $20,000,000. Selected financial ratios for Millay and the industry averages for firms of similar size are presented below.

Edna Millay

2017 Industry

2015

2016

2017

Averages

Current ratio

2.09

2.27

2.51

2.24

Quick ratio

1.15

1.12

1.19

1.22

Inventory turnover

2.40

2.18

2.02

3.50

Net sales to stockholders’ equity

2.71

2.80

2.99

2.85

Return on common stockholders’ equity

0.14

0.15

0.17

0.11

Total liabilities to stockholders’ equity

1.41

1.37

1.44

0.95

Millay is being reviewed by several entities whose interests vary, and the company’s financial ratios are a part of the data being considered. Each of the parties listed below must recommend an action based on its evaluation of Millay’s financial position.

Archibald MacLeish Bank. The bank is processing Millay’s application for a new 5-year term note. Archibald MacLeish has been Millay’s banker for several years but must reevaluate the company’s financial position for each major transaction.

Robert Penn Warren. A brokerage firm specializing in the stock of electronics firms that are sold over-the-counter, Robert Penn Warren must decide if it will include Millay in a new fund being established for sale to Robert Penn Warren’s clients.

Working Capital Management Committee. This is a committee of Millay’s management personnel chaired by the chief operating officer. The committee is charged with the responsibility of periodically reviewing the company’s working capital position, comparing actual data against budgets, and recommending changes in strategy as needed.

Instructions

a) Describe the analytical use of each of the six ratios presented above.

(Horizontal and Vertical Analysis) Presented below is the comparative balance sheet for Gilmour Company.

GILMOUR COMPANY

COMPARATIVE BALANCE SHEET

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2017

December 31

2018

2017

Assets

Cash

\( 180,000

\) 275,000

Accounts receivable (net)

220,000

155,000

Short-term investments

270,000

150,000

Inventories

1,060,000

980,000

Prepaid expenses

25,000

25,000

Plant & equipment

2,585,000

1,950,000

Accumulated depreciation

(1,000,000)

(750,000)

\(3,340,000

(2,785,000)

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Accounts payable

\) 50,000

\( 75,000

Accrued expenses

170,000

200,000

Bonds payable

450,000

190,000

Common stock

2,100,000

1,770,000

Retained earnings

570,000

550,000

\)3,340,000

(2,785,000)

Instructions

(Round to two decimal places.)

  1. Of what value is the additional information provided in part (b)?

Madrasah Corporation issued its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, on March 10, 2018. The following events took place early in 2018.

  1. On January 10, 10,000 shares of \(5 par value common stock were issued at \)66 per share.
  2. On March 1, Madrasah determined after negotiations with the Internal Revenue Service that income taxes payable for 2017 should be \(1,270,000. On December 31, 2017, income taxes payable were recorded at \)1,100,000.

Instructions

Discuss how the preceding post-balance-sheet events should be reflected in the 2017 financial statements.

(Ratio Computations and Additional Analysis) Bradburn Corporation was formed 5 years ago through a public subscription of common stock. Daniel Brown, who owns 15% of the common stock, was one of the organizers of Bradburn and is its current president. The company has been successful, but it currently is experiencing a shortage of funds. On June 10, 2018, Daniel Brown approached the Topeka National Bank, asking for a 24-month extension on two \(35,000 notes, which are due on June 30, 2018, and September 30, 2018. Another note of \)6,000 is due on March 31, 2019, but he expects no difficulty in paying this note on its due date. Brown explained that Bradburn’s cash flow problems are due primarily to the company’s desire to finance a \(300,000 plant expansion over the next 2 fiscal years through internally generated funds. The commercial loan officer of Topeka National Bank requested the following financial reports for the last 2 fiscal years

BRADBURN CORPORATION

BALANCE SHEET

MARCH 31

Assets

2018

2017

Cash

\) 18,200

\( 12,500

Notes receivable

148,000

132,000

Accounts receivable (net)

131,800

125,500

Inventories (at cost)

105,000

50,000

Plant & Equipment (net of depreciation)

1,449,000

1,420,500

Total assets

\)1,852,000

\(1,740,500

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Accounts payable

\) 79,000

\( 91,000

Notes payable

76,000

61,500

Accrued liabilities

9,000

6,000

Common stock (130,000 shares, \)10 par)

1,300,000

1,300,000

Retained earnings*

388,000

282,000

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

\(1,852,000

\)1,740,500

*Cash dividends were paid at the rate of \(1 per share in the fiscal year 2017 and \)2 per share in the fiscal year 2018.

BRADBURN CORPORATION

INCOME STATEMENT

FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED MARCH 31

2018

2017

Sales revenue

\(3,000,000

\)2,700,000

Cost of goods sold*

1,530,000

1,425,000

Gross margin

1,470,000

1,275,000

Operating expenses

860,000

780,000

Income before income taxes

610,000

495,000

Income taxes (40%)

244,000

198,000

Net income

\( 366,000

\) 297,000

Depreciation charges on the plant and equipment of \(100,000 and \)102,500 for fiscal years ended March 31, 2017, and 2018, respectively, are included in the cost of goods sold.

Instructions

A. Compute the following items for Bradburn Corporation.

4) Return on assets for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. (Assume total assets

were $1,688,500 at 3/31/16.)

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