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Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment
Advanced level
Accounting Policy on Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depreciation is recognized over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or the estimated useful lives of the improvements. The estimated useful lives of assets are primarily as follows:
| Data processing equipment | 3 to 10 years |
| Buildings | 20 to 40 years |
| Furniture and fixtures | 4 to 7 years |
ADP has obligations under various facilities and equipment leases. ADP assesses whether these arrangements meet the criteria for capital leases by determining whether the agreement transfers ownership of the asset, whether the lease includes a bargain purchase option, whether the lease term is for greater than 75% of the asset’s useful life, or whether the minimum lease payments exceed 90% of the leased equipment’s fair market value. All of ADP’s leases are classified as operating leases. Total expense under these operating lease agreements was approximately $270.1 million, $234.9 million, and $234.5 million in fiscal 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09).
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure
Automatic Data Processing Inc., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-04), 10-K (filing date: 2016-08-05), 10-K (filing date: 2015-08-07), 10-K (filing date: 2014-08-08).
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Property, plant and equipment at cost | Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s property, plant and equipment at cost increased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
| Property, plant and equipment, net | Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s property, plant and equipment, net increased from 2017 to 2018 but then decreased significantly from 2018 to 2019. |
Asset Age Ratios (Summary)
Automatic Data Processing Inc., asset age ratios
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-04), 10-K (filing date: 2016-08-05), 10-K (filing date: 2015-08-07), 10-K (filing date: 2014-08-08).
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Average age ratio | As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
| Estimated total useful life | Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2017 to 2018 but then slightly deteriorated from 2018 to 2019. |
| Estimated remaining life | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
Average Age
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-04), 10-K (filing date: 2016-08-05), 10-K (filing date: 2015-08-07), 10-K (filing date: 2014-08-08).
2019 Calculations
1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation ÷ Property, plant and equipment at cost
= 100 × ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Average age | As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
Estimated Total Useful Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-04), 10-K (filing date: 2016-08-05), 10-K (filing date: 2015-08-07), 10-K (filing date: 2014-08-08).
2019 Calculations
1 Estimated total useful life = Property, plant and equipment at cost ÷ Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
= ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total useful life | Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
Estimated Age, Time Elapsed since Purchase
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-04), 10-K (filing date: 2016-08-05), 10-K (filing date: 2015-08-07), 10-K (filing date: 2014-08-08).
2019 Calculations
1 Time elapsed since purchase = Accumulated depreciation ÷ Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
= ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2017 to 2018 but then slightly deteriorated from 2018 to 2019. |
Estimated Remaining Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-09), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-04), 10-K (filing date: 2016-08-05), 10-K (filing date: 2015-08-07), 10-K (filing date: 2014-08-08).
2019 Calculations
1 Estimated remaining life = Property, plant and equipment, net ÷ Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
= ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated remaining life | Automatic Data Processing Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |