Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Quarterly Data
The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.
Liabilities represents obligations of a company arising from past events, the settlement of which is expected to result in an outflow of economic benefits from the entity.
Twenty-First Century Fox Inc., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity (quarterly data)
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-09-30), 10-K (reporting date: 2013-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2012-12-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2012-09-30).
The financial position of the organization is characterized by a substantial reliance on long-term debt and significant volatility in stockholders' equity over the analyzed period. Total liabilities remained relatively stable, fluctuating between $30.3 billion and $34.6 billion, while total equity experienced a period of contraction followed by a sharp increase toward the end of 2018.
- Liability Composition and Trends
- Total liabilities demonstrated a general stability, though the composition shifted. Current liabilities peaked at $11.05 billion in March 2013 before trending lower to stabilize around $7.9 billion by December 2018. This decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other current liabilities, which fell from a high of $6.03 billion in March 2013 to $3.24 billion by December 2018. Non-current liabilities exhibited a gradual increase, peaking at $26.36 billion in March 2017 before settling at $24.14 billion in December 2018.
- Debt Profile and Borrowing Patterns
- The capital structure is heavily weighted toward non-current borrowings, which consistently remained above $16 billion, peaking at $19.81 billion in December 2016. In contrast, current borrowings were highly volatile, frequently fluctuating between low levels of $80 million and spikes exceeding $1.5 billion, as seen in March 2018. This pattern suggests the tactical use of short-term credit to manage liquidity needs against a backdrop of stable long-term debt.
- Equity Dynamics and Retained Earnings
- Stockholders' equity underwent significant transformations. After an initial decline from $26.26 billion in September 2012 to a low of $13.66 billion in June 2016, equity began a recovery phase. A notable shift occurred in the reporting of retained earnings, which grew aggressively from $2.39 billion in June 2014 to $21.29 billion by December 2018. This surge in retained earnings was the primary driver behind the overall increase in total equity, which reached $33.24 billion in the final quarter of 2018.
- Other Comprehensive Income and Noncontrolling Interests
- Accumulated other comprehensive loss widened steadily throughout the period, reaching a peak deficit of $2.38 billion in December 2016 before moderating to $1.88 billion by December 2018. Noncontrolling interests remained relatively stable, typically fluctuating between $500 million and $1.2 billion, exerting minimal influence on the overall solvency position compared to the movements in retained earnings and long-term debt.
- Overall Balance Sheet Structure
- By the end of 2018, the balance sheet showed a strengthened equity position relative to liabilities. The ratio of total liabilities to total equity shifted from approximately 1.2:1 in September 2012 to nearly 1:1 by December 2018, indicating a reduction in financial leverage and an increase in the proportion of assets financed by equity.
AI Ask an analyst for more
Hi, I’m an AI-powered financial analyst at Stock Analysis on Net.
Without a user account, I tend to respond rather slowly.
How can I help you?