.Analysis of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Difficulty: Advanced
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Accounting Policy
Long-Lived Assets, Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Alphabet reviews property and equipment, long-term prepayments and intangible assets, excluding goodwill, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Alphabet measures recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows that the assets or the asset group are expected to generate. If the carrying value of the assets are not recoverable, the impairment recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. Intangible asset impairments were not material in 2015, 2016, or 2017.
Alphabet allocates goodwill to reporting units based on the expected benefit from the business combination. Alphabet evaluate the reporting units when changes in the operating structure occur, and if necessary, reassign goodwill using a relative fair value allocation approach. Alphabet test the goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. No goodwill impairment occurred in 2015, 2016, or 2017.
Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Alphabet amortizes intangible assets on a straight-line basis with definite lives over periods ranging from one to twelve years.
Source: Alphabet Inc., Annual Report
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure
Alphabet Inc., Statement of Financial Position, Goodwill and Intangible Assets
USD $ in millions
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Patents and developed technology | |||||
| | Customer relationships | |||||
| | Trade names and other | |||||
| | Purchased intangible assets, gross carrying amount | |||||
| | Accumulated amortization | |||||
| | Purchased intangible assets, net carrying value | |||||
| | Goodwill | |||||
| | Goodwill and other intangible assets |
Source: Based on data from Alphabet Inc. Annual Reports
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Purchased intangible assets, net carrying value | Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. | Alphabet Inc.'s purchased intangible assets, net carrying value declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Goodwill | Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions. | Alphabet Inc.'s goodwill increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Goodwill and other intangible assets | Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, including goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. | Alphabet Inc.'s goodwill and other intangible assets increased from 2015 to 2016 but then declined significantly from 2016 to 2017. |
Analyst Adjustments: Removal of Goodwill
Alphabet Inc., adjustments to financial data
USD $ in millions
Adjusted Ratios: Removal of Goodwill (Summary)
Alphabet Inc., adjusted ratios
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Asset Turnover | ||||||
| | Reported total asset turnover | |||||
| | Adjusted total asset turnover | |||||
| Financial Leverage | ||||||
| | Reported financial leverage | |||||
| | Adjusted financial leverage | |||||
| Return on Equity (ROE) | ||||||
| | Reported ROE | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Adjusted ROE | % | % | % | % | % |
| Return on Assets (ROA) | ||||||
| | Reported ROA | % | % | % | % | % |
| | Adjusted ROA | % | % | % | % | % |
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted total asset turnover | An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets. | Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Adjusted financial leverage | A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income. |
Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted financial leverage declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level. |
| Adjusted ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity. | Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017. |
| Adjusted ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by adjusted total assets. | Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Total Asset Turnover
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Revenues (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total asset turnover1 | |||||
| Adjusted for Goodwill | ||||||
| | Revenues (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total asset turnover2 | |||||
2017 Calculations
1 Total asset turnover = Revenues ÷ Total assets
= ÷ =
2 Adjusted total asset turnover = Revenues ÷ Adjusted total assets
= ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted total asset turnover | An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets. | Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted total asset turnover improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Financial Leverage
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Financial leverage1 | |||||
| Adjusted for Goodwill | ||||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted financial leverage2 | |||||
2017 Calculations
1 Financial leverage = Total assets ÷ Stockholders' equity
= ÷ =
2 Adjusted financial leverage = Adjusted total assets ÷ Adjusted stockholders' equity
= ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted financial leverage | A measure of financial leverage calculated as adjusted total assets divided by adjusted total equity. Financial leverage is the extent to which a company can effect, through the use of debt, a proportional change in the return on common equity that is greater than a given proportional change in operating income. |
Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted financial leverage declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 exceeding 2015 level. |
Adjusted Return on Equity (ROE)
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | ROE1 | % | % | % | % | % |
| Adjusted for Goodwill | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted stockholders' equity (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted ROE2 | % | % | % | % | % |
2017 Calculations
1 ROE = 100 × Net income ÷ Stockholders' equity
= 100 × ÷ = %
2 Adjusted ROE = 100 × Net income ÷ Adjusted stockholders' equity
= 100 × ÷ = %
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity. | Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017. |
Adjusted Return on Assets (ROA)
| Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | Dec 31, 2013 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As Reported | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | ROA1 | % | % | % | % | % |
| Adjusted for Goodwill | ||||||
| | Net income (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted ROA2 | % | % | % | % | % |
2017 Calculations
1 ROA = 100 × Net income ÷ Total assets
= 100 × ÷ = %
2 Adjusted ROA = 100 × Net income ÷ Adjusted total assets
= 100 × ÷ = %
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by adjusted total assets. | Alphabet Inc.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 but then deteriorated significantly from 2016 to 2017. |
