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A Wall Street Journal article noted that Apple reported higher income than its competitors by using a more aggressive policy for recognizing revenue on future upgrades to its products. Some contend that Apple’s quality of earnings is low. What does the term “quality of earnings” mean?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Quality of earnings means the reporting of credibility of the earnings in number.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Earnings

Income is the principal determinant shown in a company’s financial statements to represent the company’s profitability for a specific period. In addition, a company’s earnings help calculate several financial ratios.

02

Explanation of quality of earnings

Quality of earnings means the number reported in the financial statements must be reliable and accurately presented. Companies using aggressive policies will report higher income numbers for the short run. In this case, the quality of earnings will be less.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Lebron Co. owns most but not all of the shares of its subsidiary Bryant Inc. Lebron reported net income of \(124,700. The amount to be attributed to the noncontrolling interest in Bryant is \)30,000. Indicate how Lebron will report the noncontrolling interest in its income statement.

Question: Presented below is a combined single-step income and retained earnings statement for Nerwin Company for 2017.

(000 omitted)

Net sales revenue \(640,000

Costs and expenses

Cost of goods sold \)500,000

Selling, general, and administrative expenses 66,000

Other, net 17,000

583,000

Income before income tax 57,000

Income tax 19,400

Net income 37,600

Retained earnings at beginning of period, as previously reported 141,000

Adjustment required for correction of error (7,000)

Retained earnings at beginning of period, as restated 134,000

Dividends on common stock (12,200)

Retained earnings at end of period \(159,400

Additional facts are as follows.

1. “Selling, general, and administrative expenses” for 2017 included a charge of \)8,500,000 that was usual but infrequently occurring.

2. “Other, net” for 2017 included a loss on sale of equipment of $6,000,000.

3. “Adjustment required for correction of an error” was a result of a change in estimate (useful life of certain assets reduced to 8 years and a catch-up adjustment made).

4. Nerwin Company disclosed earnings per common share for net income in the notes to the financial statements.

Instructions

Determine from these additional facts whether the presentation of the facts in the Nerwin Company income and retained earnings statement is appropriate. If the presentation is not appropriate, describe the appropriate presentation and discuss its theoretical rationale. (Do not prepare a revised statement.)

Perlman Land Development, Inc. purchased land for \(70,000 and spent \)30,000 developing it. It then sold the land for \(160,000. Sheehan Manufacturing purchased land for a future plant site for \)100,000. Due to a change in plans, Sheehan later sold the land for \(160,000. Should these two companies report the land sales, both at gains of \)60,000, in a similar manner?

Identify at least two situations in which application of different accounting methods or accounting estimates results in difficulties in comparing companies.

Question: What is meant by the terms elements and items as they relate to the income statement? Why might items have to be disclosed in the income statement?

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