.Analysis of Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Difficulty: Advanced
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Accounting Policy
Long-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill and Other Acquired Intangible Assets
Facebook evaluates the recoverability of property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets for possible impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. The evaluation is performed at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. Recoverability of these assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows the assets are expected to generate. If such review indicates that the carrying amount of property and equipment and intangible assets is not recoverable, the carrying amount of such assets is reduced to fair value. Facebook has not recorded any significant impairment charges during the years presented.
Facebook reviews goodwill for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the single reporting unit below its carrying value. As of December 31, 2017, no impairment of goodwill has been identified.
Acquired finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Facebook routinely reviews the remaining estimated useful lives of property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets. If Facebook reduces the estimated useful life assumption for any asset, the remaining unamortized balance is amortized or depreciated over the revised estimated useful life.
Source: Facebook Inc., Annual Report
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure
Facebook 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Acquired users | |||||
| | Acquired technology | |||||
| | Acquired patents | |||||
| | Trade names | |||||
| | Other | |||||
| | Finite-lived intangible assets, gross carrying amount | |||||
| | Accumulated amortization | |||||
| | Finite-lived intangible assets, net carrying amount | |||||
| | In-process research and development (IPR&D) | |||||
| | Indefinite-lived intangible assets | |||||
| | Intangible assets | |||||
| | Goodwill | |||||
| | Goodwill and intangible assets |
Source: Based on data from Facebook Inc. Annual Reports
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Intangible assets | Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges. | Facebook Inc.'s intangible assets 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. | Facebook Inc.'s goodwill increased from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Goodwill and 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. | Facebook Inc.'s goodwill and intangible assets declined from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
Analyst Adjustments: Removal of Goodwill
Facebook Inc., adjustments to financial data
USD $ in millions
Adjusted Ratios: Removal of Goodwill (Summary)
Facebook 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. | Facebook 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. |
Facebook Inc.'s adjusted financial leverage declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 2015 level. |
| Adjusted ROE | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by adjusted shareholders' equity. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
| Adjusted ROA | A profitability ratio calculated as net income divided by adjusted total assets. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 and 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 | ||||||
| | Revenue (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Total asset turnover1 | |||||
| Adjusted for Goodwill | ||||||
| | Revenue (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total assets (USD $ in millions) | |||||
| | Adjusted total asset turnover2 | |||||
2017 Calculations
1 Total asset turnover = Revenue ÷ Total assets
= ÷ =
2 Adjusted total asset turnover = Revenue ÷ Adjusted total assets
= ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted total asset turnover | An activity ratio calculated as total revenue divided by adjusted total assets. | Facebook 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. |
Facebook Inc.'s adjusted financial leverage declined from 2015 to 2016 but then increased from 2016 to 2017 not reaching 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. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROE improved from 2015 to 2016 and 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. | Facebook Inc.'s adjusted ROA improved from 2015 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2017. |
