Analysis of Bad Debts

Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable (bad debts) is a contra account which reduce the balance of the company 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

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable

	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017	Dec 31, 2016	Dec 31, 2015
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Allowance for doubtful accounts	110,800)	101,700)	93,000)	75,700)	80,600)
Accounts receivable, gross	3,303,100)	2,969,800)	2,992,000)	2,606,700)	2,482,200)
Financial Ratio
Allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross¹	3.35%	3.42%	3.11%	2.90%	3.25%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-12-31).

¹ 2019 Calculation
Allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross = 100 × Allowance for doubtful accounts ÷ Accounts receivable, gross
= 100 × 110,800 ÷ 3,303,100 = 3.35%

Financial ratio	Description	The company
Allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross	Allowance for doubtful accounts divided by the gross accounts receivable.	Allergan PLC allowance as a percentage of accounts receivable, gross increased from 2017 to 2018 but then slightly decreased from 2018 to 2019.

Allergan PLC (NYSE:AGN)

Analysis of Bad Debts

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable