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Microsoft Corp. (MSFT)
Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment
Advanced level
Accounting Policy on Property, Plant and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation, and depreciated using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. The estimated useful lives of Microsoft’s property and equipment are generally as follows: computer software developed or acquired for internal use, three to seven years; computer equipment, two to three years; buildings and improvements, five to 15 years; leasehold improvements, three to 20 years; and furniture and equipment, one to 10 years. Land is not depreciated.
Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-01).
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure
Microsoft Corp., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-01), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-02), 10-K (filing date: 2016-07-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-07-31), 10-K (filing date: 2014-07-31).
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Property 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. | Microsoft Corp.’s property and equipment, at cost increased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
| Property 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. | Microsoft Corp.’s property and equipment, net increased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
Asset Age Ratios (Summary)
Microsoft Corp., asset age ratios
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-01), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-02), 10-K (filing date: 2016-07-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-07-31), 10-K (filing date: 2014-07-31).
| 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. | Microsoft Corp.’s average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved 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. | Microsoft Corp.’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. | Microsoft Corp.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
| Estimated remaining life | Microsoft Corp.’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: 2019-08-01), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-02), 10-K (filing date: 2016-07-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-07-31), 10-K (filing date: 2014-07-31).
2019 Calculations
1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation ÷ (Property and equipment, at cost – Land)
= 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. | Microsoft Corp.’s average age ratio of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
Estimated Total Useful Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-01), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-02), 10-K (filing date: 2016-07-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-07-31), 10-K (filing date: 2014-07-31).
2019 Calculations
1 Estimated total useful life = (Property and equipment, at cost – Land) ÷ Depreciation expense
= ( – ) ÷ =
| 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. | Microsoft Corp.’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: 2019-08-01), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-02), 10-K (filing date: 2016-07-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-07-31), 10-K (filing date: 2014-07-31).
2019 Calculations
1 Time elapsed since purchase = Accumulated depreciation ÷ Depreciation expense
= ÷ =
| 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. | Microsoft Corp.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment improved from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |
Estimated Remaining Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-08-01), 10-K (filing date: 2018-08-03), 10-K (filing date: 2017-08-02), 10-K (filing date: 2016-07-28), 10-K (filing date: 2015-07-31), 10-K (filing date: 2014-07-31).
2019 Calculations
1 Estimated remaining life = (Property and equipment, net – Land) ÷ Depreciation expense
= ( – ) ÷ =
| Asset age ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated remaining life | Microsoft Corp.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment decreased from 2017 to 2018 and from 2018 to 2019. |