📈Financial Accounting II Unit 5 – Investments: Debt, Equity, and Fair Value

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Investments represent assets acquired with the goal of generating income, capital appreciation, or both
• Debt investments include bonds, notes, and other securities that represent a creditor relationship with the issuer
• Equity investments represent ownership interests in a company, such as common stock or preferred stock
• Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date
• Amortized cost is the amount at which a financial asset or financial liability is measured at initial recognition minus the principal repayments, plus or minus the cumulative amortization using the effective interest method of any difference between that initial amount and the maturity amount, and minus any reduction for impairment or uncollectibility
• Held-to-maturity investments are debt securities that an entity has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, which are reported at amortized cost
• Available-for-sale investments are debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity or trading securities, which are reported at fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in other comprehensive income

Types of Investments

• Debt investments include corporate bonds, government bonds (U.S. Treasury securities), municipal bonds, and other fixed-income securities
• Equity investments encompass common stock, preferred stock, and other ownership interests in a company
• Hybrid securities combine characteristics of both debt and equity investments (convertible bonds)
• Derivative instruments derive their value from an underlying asset, index, or reference rate (options, futures, swaps)
• Mutual funds pool money from many investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are similar to mutual funds but are traded on stock exchanges like individual stocks
• Real estate investments can be made through direct property ownership, real estate investment trusts (REITs), or mortgage-backed securities

Debt Investments: Accounting and Valuation

• Debt investments are initially recorded at cost, which includes the purchase price and any transaction costs
• Premiums and discounts on debt investments are amortized over the life of the security using the effective interest method
• Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis, with the amount determined by the stated interest rate and the carrying value of the investment
• Held-to-maturity debt securities are reported at amortized cost on the balance sheet
  • Unrealized gains and losses on held-to-maturity investments are not recognized in the financial statements
• Available-for-sale debt securities are reported at fair value on the balance sheet
  • Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments are reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated in a separate component of stockholders' equity
• Impairment losses are recognized when the fair value of a debt investment declines below its amortized cost basis and the decline is considered other-than-temporary

Equity Investments: Accounting and Valuation

• Equity investments are initially recorded at cost, which includes the purchase price and any transaction costs
• Investments in common stock are classified as either trading securities, available-for-sale securities, or equity method investments
• Trading securities are bought and held primarily for sale in the near term and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings
• Available-for-sale equity securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income and accumulated in a separate component of stockholders' equity
• Equity method investments are those in which the investor has significant influence over the investee (generally 20-50% ownership)
  • Under the equity method, the investor records its proportionate share of the investee's net income or loss and adjusts the carrying value of the investment accordingly
• Dividend income from equity investments is recognized when the investor's right to receive payment is established

Fair Value Measurement

• Fair value is determined based on a hierarchy of inputs, with Level 1 inputs being the most reliable and Level 3 inputs being the least reliable
  • Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
  • Level 2 inputs are observable inputs other than Level 1 prices (quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, interest rates, yield curves)
  • Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity's own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability
• Valuation techniques used to measure fair value should maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs
• Changes in fair value measurements can impact the classification and presentation of investments in the financial statements

Financial Statement Presentation

• Investments are typically presented on the balance sheet as either current or non-current assets, depending on management's intent and the investment's maturity
• Realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments are reported in the income statement
  • Realized gains and losses result from the sale or maturity of investments
  • Unrealized gains and losses arise from changes in the fair value of investments still held at the reporting date
• Comprehensive income includes net income and other comprehensive income (OCI), which consists of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, foreign currency translation adjustments, and certain pension plan adjustments
• The statement of cash flows should separately disclose the cash flows from investing activities, including purchases, sales, and maturities of investments

Impact on Financial Ratios

• The classification and valuation of investments can significantly impact a company's financial ratios and overall financial position
• Liquidity ratios, such as the current ratio and quick ratio, may be affected by the classification of investments as current or non-current assets
• Profitability ratios, like return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), can be influenced by the gains or losses recognized on investments
• Debt-to-equity and debt-to-total-capital ratios may be impacted by the presence of debt investments and their classification as liabilities or equity
• Analysts and investors should consider the nature and composition of a company's investment portfolio when assessing its financial health and performance

Real-World Applications and Case Studies

• In 2008, during the global financial crisis, many companies experienced significant losses on their investments in mortgage-backed securities and other complex financial instruments
• Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is known for its substantial equity investments in companies like Apple, Coca-Cola, and American Express
• The collapse of Enron in 2001 highlighted the importance of understanding off-balance-sheet investments and special purpose entities (SPEs)
• In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-01, which changed the accounting for equity investments and introduced new disclosure requirements
• Many companies, such as pension funds and insurance companies, rely heavily on investments to generate returns and meet their long-term obligations
• The Volkswagen emissions scandal in 2015 demonstrated how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors can impact a company's stock price and investor sentiment