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{"id":2464,"date":"2013-09-24T20:18:37","date_gmt":"2013-09-24T20:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businessecon.org\/?p=2464"},"modified":"2023-08-09T17:10:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T17:10:19","slug":"the-fixed-assets-section-of-the-balance-sheet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valueinvestingnow.com\/2013\/09\/the-fixed-assets-section-of-the-balance-sheet","title":{"rendered":"The Fixed Assets Section of the Balance Sheet"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Fixed Assets Section of the Balance Sheet<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

The fixed assets section of the balance sheet is one of the easiest sections to read and understand. This article is written to describe and illustrate some simple examples of the fixed assets section. I am not teaching the reader about the accounting system(s) used for fixed assets or how to calculate depreciation. This article is to help the value investor understand how to<\/span> read this section of a balance sheet<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

I will start out with teaching some basic terms used on the balance sheet. From there, I will describe the most basic presentation format and then begin to expand this section so the reader can gain a more in-depth understanding of the fixed assets section.\u00a0 Finally, I will explain the importance of understanding the corresponding notes associated with fixed assets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The balance sheet is divided into two sides, the \u2018Assets\u2019 side and the \u2018Liabilities and Equity\u2019 side. The \u2018Assets\u2019 side has three major sections. The first is \u2018Current Assets\u2019 which includes cash, receivables, and inventory (if interested in learning more about current assets, read<\/span> An Explanation of Current Assets<\/a><\/strong><\/span> ). The second section is \u2018Fixed Assets\u2019 and the third is called \u2018Other Assets\u2019 \u2013 mostly intangibles such as rights, patents, and goodwill. This article is written to explain the \u2018Fixed Assets\u2019 section of the Assets side of a balance sheet.\u00a0 The following illustrates a simple formatted \u2018Assets Side\u2019 of a Balance Sheet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0XYZ, Inc.
\n<\/b><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Balance Sheet
\n<\/b><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 12\/31\/ZZ
\n<\/b><\/span>Current Assets \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 $ZZ,ZZZ
\n<\/span>Fixed Assets (Netted) \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 ZZZ,ZZZ
\n<\/span>Other Assets \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Z,ZZZ
\n<\/span><\/span>Total Assets \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 $ZZZ,ZZZ<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Notice how the final number for Fixed Assets is just a straight forward summed up number. In general, fixed assets are composed of two numbers. The first is the total acquisition costs of all the fixed assets. The second is the lifetime to date accumulated depreciation. The accumulated depreciation is an offset against acquisition costs. The two numbers are netted to form the Net Fixed Assets or the Fixed Assets (Netted) on the \u2018Assets\u2019 side of the balance sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Terminology<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The following are terms used with fixed assets and their respective associated definitions:<\/span><\/p>\n

Fixed Assets<\/b> \u2013 a group of items that is generally expensive and have life expectancies of more than one year. For a more thorough understanding of this term, please read the following:<\/span> The Definition of Fixed Assets<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Real Estate<\/b> \u2013 in accounting it is most commonly tied to land. Some companies will include the structures and other improvements on the land in the total value accumulated. Often real estate is subdivided into the following groups (accounts):<\/span><\/p>\n