Analysis of Bad Debts
Advanced level
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable (bad debts) is a contra account which reduce the balance of the company’s gross accounts receivable. The relationship between the allowance and the balance in receivables should be relatively constant unless there is a change in the economy overall or a change in customer base.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2020-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2019-01-31), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-02), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-16), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-10).
1 2019 Calculation
Allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross = 100 × Allowance for doubtful accounts ÷ Accounts receivable, gross
= 100 × 151 ÷ 2,378 = 6.35%
| Financial ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross | Allowance for doubtful accounts divided by the gross accounts receivable. | Charter Communications Inc.’s allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross increased from 2017 to 2018 but then decreased significantly from 2018 to 2019. |