In: Accounting
Analyzing Effects of LIFO on Inventory Turnover Ratios
The current assets of Exxon Mobil Corporation follow:
$ millions | 2014 | 2013 |
---|---|---|
Current assets | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $4,658 | $4,913 |
Notes and accounts receivable, less estimated doubtful amounts | 28,009 | 33,152 |
Inventories: | ||
Crude oil, products and merchandise | 12,384 | 12,117 |
Materials and supplies | 4,294 | 4,018 |
Other current assets | 3,565 | 5,108 |
Total current assets | $52,910 | $59,308 |
In addition, the following note was provided in its 2014 10-K report:
Inventories. Crude oil, products and merchandise inventories are
carried at the lower of current market value or cost (generally
determined under the last-in, first-out method—LIFO). Inventory
costs include expenditures and other charges (including
depreciation) directly and indirectly incurred in bringing the
inventory to its existing condition and location. Selling expenses
and general and administrative expenses are reported as period
costs and excluded from inventory cost. Inventories of materials
and supplies are valued at cost or less.
In 2014, 2013, and 2012, net income included gains of $187 million,
$282 million, and $328 million, respectively, attributable to the
combined effects of LIFO inventory accumulations and drawdowns. The
aggregate replacement cost of inventories was estimated to exceed
their LIFO carrying values by $10.6 billion and $21.2 billion at
December 31, 2014, and 2013, respectively.
Required:
a. Exxon Mobil reported pretax earnings of $51,630 million in 2014.
What amount of pretax earnings would have been reported by the
company if inventory had been reported using the FIFO costing
method?
b. Exxon Mobil reported cost of goods sold of $225,972 million in
2014. Compute its inventory turnover ratio for 2014 using total
inventories.
(Round your answer to one decimal place.)
Answer
c. BP, p.l.c. (BP) reports its financial information using IFRS.
For fiscal year 2014, BP reported cost of goods sold of $281,907
million, beginning inventory of $29,231 million and ending
inventory of $18,373 million. Compute BP’s inventory turnover ratio
for fiscal year 2014. (Round your answer to one decimal
place.)
Answer
d. Compare your answers in parts b and c. BP can’t use LIFO to
report under IFRS, so, revise your calculations in such a way as to
find out which company has faster inventory turnover. (Hint:
Calculate Exxon Mobil's inventory turnover ratio as if Exxon Mobil
used the FIFO costing method.) (Round your answer to one decimal
place.)
Answer
Answer
A.
Amount of pretax earnings would have been reported by the company under FIFO(Amount $ (' millions))
Pre Tax Earnings Existing =51,630
Add: Aggregate replacement cost of inventories for year 2014 =10,600
Less: Aggregate replacement cost of inventories for year 2013 =21,200
Pre Tax Earnings under FIFO =41,030
(The effect of Change in LIFO to FIFO for previous years has to be disclosed separately)
B.
Inventory Turnover = Cost of Goods sold / Average Inventories.
Inventory Turnover = [$ 225,972/ $ 12,250.5] million
= 18.4
Days Inventory Outstanding = 365 days/ 18.4 = 19.83 days
( Average Inventories = (Begining Inventories + Closing Inventories) / 2
= $ [(12,117+12,384) / 2] million
= $ 12,250.5 million )
C.
Inventory Turnover = Cost of Goods sold / Average Inventories.
Average Inventories = (Begining Inventories + Closing Inventories) / 2
= [$ (29,231+18,373) / 2] million
= $ 23,802 million
Inventory Turnover = [$ 281,907/ $ 23,802] million
= 11.8
Days Inventory Outstanding = 365 days/ 11.8
= 30.9 days
D.
Exxon Mobil's Inventory Turnover Ration using FIFO
Particulars | $ Million |
a. Cost of Goods sold | 2,25,972 |
b.Opening Inventory (12117+21200) | 33,317 |
c.Closing Inventory (12384+10600) | 22,984 |
d. Average Inventory ((b+c)/2) | 28,151 |
e. Inventory Turnover Ratio (a/d) | 8 |
Inventory Turnover in days (365/e) | 45 |
BP, p.l.c has faster inventory Turnover Ratio