In: Accounting
Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) is a Canadian food retailer that owns 1,000 corporate and
franchise supermarkets that operate under 22 regional and market segment banners. Loblaw
brands include President’s Choice, No Name, Joe Fresh, T&T, Everyday Living, Exact,
Seaquest, Azami, and Teddy’s Choice. Loblaw is a public company, and its shares are listed on
the Toronto stock exchange.
Below you will find the 2016 and 2015 consolidated balance sheets (statement of financial
position). You will also find some excerpts from its notes section. All amounts are in millions of
Canadian dollars.
The fiscal year of the Company ends on the Saturday closest to December 31. Any references
below to 2015 relate to the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, and any references below to 2016
relate to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
REQUIRED:
a) Calculate the following ratios for both 2016 and 2015:
a. Current ratio
b. Quick ratio
b) (3marks) Based on your calculation in a), comment on the liquidity of Loblaw and how/if
it has changed between fiscal year 2015 and 2016.
c) Cost of goods sold is $33,213 million for 2016 and $32,846 million for 2015.
Inventory balance was $4,309 million for 2014. Calculate the followings for both 2016
and 2015:
a. Inventory turnover
b. Days to sell inventory
d) Based on the brief description of Loblaw and your understanding of retail
business operations, do you think your calculations in c) are reasonable and why?
e) Use the information below from Note 12 “Inventories” and answer the
following:
a. Prepare a journal entry to record the write-down of inventories.
b. Give two examples and explain why a write-down of inventories is necessary for
Loblaw.
Note 12 Inventories
For inventories recorded as at December 31, 2016, the Company recorded $22 million as
an expense for the write-down of inventories below cost to net realizable value. The
write-down was included in cost of merchandise inventories sold.
f) Calculate the debt-to-equity ratio for 2016. Explain what this ratio measures
and why creditors want to see this ratio.
g) Answer the following questions:
a. Loblaw has unlimited number of authorized shares on each class of shares. Why
do many companies today prefer to have an unlimited authorized number of
shares?
b. List and explain three differences between common shares and preferred shares.
c. Based on the information available, are you able to determine the net income for
the year ended December 31, 2016? Show your detailed calculations or explain
why not.
d. The unit price for Loblaw’s common shares was $70.33 on December 31, 2016
and $63.92 on December 31, 2015. Note 24 “Share Capital” (not provided)
indicated the following:
2016 2015
Dividends declared per share ($):
Common Share $1.03(2016) $0.0995 (2015)
What is the dividend yield for common shareholders in each of 2016 and 2015? If
you are a common shareholder, are you happy to see the change and why? (3
marks)
Loblaw Companies Limited
Consolidated Balance Sheet
As of December 31
(in millions of Canadian Dollars)
2016 2015
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,314 $ 1,018
Short term investments 241 64
Accounts receivable 4,048 4,115
Inventories 4,371 4,322
Prepaid expenses and other assets 230 336
Total Current Assets $ 10,204 $ 9,855
Non-current Assets
Fixed assets 11,592 11,558
Intangible assets 8,745 9,164
Goodwill 3,895 3,780
Total Non-current Assets $ 24,232 $ 24,502
Total Assets $ 34,436 $ 34,357
Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Bankindebtedness $ 115 $ 143
Trade payables 5,091 5,106
Provisionsand other liabilities 1,736 1,973
Total Current Liabilities $ 6,942 $ 7,222
Non-Current liabilities
Long term debt and other liabilities $ 14,466 $ 14,011
Total liabilities $ 21,408 $ 21,233
Equity
Share capital $ 7,913 $ 8,072
Retained Earnings 4,944 4,914
Contributed surplus 112 102
Accumulated other comprehensive
income 33 23
Non-controlling interest 26 13
Total Equity $ 13,028 $ 13,124
Total Liabilities and Equity $ 34,436 $ 34,357
Answer(1): Calculating for 2015-
Current Ratio = Current assets / current liabilities
Current ratio: 9855 / 7222 = 1.36
Quick ratio = Liquid assets / Current liabilities
Liquid assets = Cash & cash equivalents + short term investment
Quick ratio: 1082 / 7222 = .15
Calculating for 2016
(a): Current Ratio = Current assets / current liabilities
Current ratio: 10204/6942 = 1.47
(b): Quick ratio = Liquid assets / Current liabilities
Liquid assets = Cash & cash equivalents + short term investment
Quick ratio: 1555 / 6942 = .22
Answer(2): Liquidity- Current ratio and quick ratio are the liquidity measures. We can see that in 2016, current and quick ratio have increased as compare to 2015, liquidity has increased in 2016 as compare to 2015.
Answer(3): Calculating inventory turnover ratio for 2015:
Inventory turnover ratio = Cost of goods sold / Average inventory
Average inventory = (Closing inventory + Opening inventory) / 2
Average inventory: (4322+4309) / 2 = $4315.50
Inventory turnover ratio: 32846/4315.50 = 7.61 times
Days sale in inventory = Ending inventory / COGS * 365
Days sale in inventory: 4322/32846 * 365 = 48 DAYS.
Calculating inventory turnover ratio for 2016:
Average inventory: (4371+4322)/2 = 4346.5
Inventory turnover ratio: 33213/4346.50 = 7.64 times
Days sale in inventory: 4371/33213 * 365 = 48 DAYS