A Statement That Reports The Financial Position

A Statement That Reports The Financial Position

Question 1. 1. (TCO 2) A statement that reports the financial position (assets, liabilities, and stockholders' equity) of an accounting entity at a point in time is called a(an): (Points : 5) Income statement Statement of retained earnings Balance sheet Statement of cash flows Report of management

Question 2. 2. (TCO 2) Two major methods of asset valuation are: (Points : 5) historical cost and future cost historical cost and acquisition cost historical cost and replacement cost acquisition cost and future cost

Question 3. 3. (TCO 2) _____ is the most important financial metric to review to determine long-term financial viability. (Points : 5) Return on equity Total margin Days cash on hand Hospital cost index None of the above

Question 4. 4. (TCO 2) What is/(are) the primary determinant(s) of firm value? (Points : 5) Profit Investment Cost of capital All of above

Question 5. 5. (TCO 2) What are the major reasons for accrual accounting? (Points : 5)

Question 6. 6. (TCO 2) What is an accounting entity? (Points : 5)

Question 7. 7. (TCO 2) The HC method, which uses unadjusted historical costs, does not take into account depreciation expenses, purchasing power, and unrealized gains in replacement value. Despite these weaknesses as a financial reporting method, the HC method is used more frequently for accounting purposes than other methods, such as the HC-GPL, CV, and CV-GPL methods. Why is this so? (Points : 10)

Question 8. 8. (TCO 2) What is the basic accounting equation? (Points : 10)

Paper For Above instruction

The statement that reports the financial position of an accounting entity at a specific point in time is known as the balance sheet. This financial statement offers a snapshot of an entity's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity, providing crucial insights into its financial health. The balance sheet is fundamental in financial analysis and decision-making, allowing stakeholders to assess liquidity, leverage, and overall stability of the organization.

Two primary methods of asset valuation are historical cost and replacement cost. Historical cost reflects the original purchase price of an asset, providing objectivity and verifiability, while replacement cost estimates the current cost to replace an asset with a similar one. The choice between these methods affects financial statements' accuracy and relevance, with historical cost often preferred for its simplicity and consistency, despite its limitations in reflecting current market values.

The most critical financial metric for assessing long-term viability is return on equity (ROE). ROE measures the profitability relative to shareholders' equity, indicating how efficiently a company is generating profit from invested capital. A high ROE suggests effective management and profitable operations, making it a vital indicator for investors and management to evaluate sustainability and growth prospects. Other metrics like total margin and days cash on hand offer supplementary insights but are less comprehensive for long-term evaluation.

The primary determinants of firm value include profit, investment, and the cost of capital. Profit reflects the company's ability to generate earnings; investment pertains to the assets used to produce future earnings; and the cost of capital represents the hurdle rate required by investors for funding. All these factors collectively influence an organization’s valuation in the market, affecting decision-making regarding expansion, financing, and operational strategies.

Accrual accounting serves several major purposes: it provides a more accurate reflection of an entity's financial position, records economic events when they occur regardless of cash transactions, and improves comparability over time. It enables stakeholders to assess profitability and financial health by matching revenues with expenses incurred to generate them, thus offering a comprehensive view of performance and financial standing.

An accounting entity is an economic unit for which financial statements are prepared. It can be a business, a department, or an individual who maintains financial records. The concept ensures that the financial activities of this entity are kept separate from those of its owners or other entities, facilitating accurate reporting and analysis of financial performance and position.

The historical cost method, which uses unadjusted costs paid for assets, remains prevalent despite its drawbacks because of its objectivity, simplicity, and ease of verification. Although it does not consider depreciation, inflation, or unrealized gains, its consistency over time makes financial statements more reliable and comparable across periods. The preference for this method is also driven by regulatory standards and the desire for verifiable data by auditors and stakeholders.

The basic accounting equation, fundamental to accounting principles, states that Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders' Equity. This equation ensures that a firm's resources are always balanced by their sources of financing—either through borrowing (liabilities) or owners' investments (equity). It underpins double-entry bookkeeping and provides a clear framework for preparing financial statements and analyzing financial health.

References

  • Brigham, E. F., & Houston, J. F. (2021). Fundamentals of Financial Management. Cengage Learning.
  • Higgins, R. C. (2018). Analysis for Financial Management. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • White, G. I., Sondhi, A. C., & Fried, D. (2020). The Analysis and Use of Financial Statements. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Ross, S. A., Westerfield, R. W., & Jaffe, J. (2020). Corporate Finance. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Wild, J. J., Subramanyam, K. R., & Halsey, R. F. (2022). Financial Statement Analysis. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Epstein, L., & Jermakowicz, E. K. (2017). IFRS: A Practical Introduction. Wiley.
  • Kaplan, R. S., & Atkinson, A. A. (2019). Advanced Management Accounting. Pearson.
  • Penman, S. H. (2019). Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Simons, R. (2020). Levers of Organization Design. Harvard Business Review Press.
  • Revsine, L., Collins, D., Johnson, W., & Mittelstaedt, F. (2015). Financial Reporting and Analysis. Pearson.