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Analysis of Bad Debts
Difficulty: Advanced
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.
Receivables Accounting Policy
Trade Receivables
BD grants credit to customers in the normal course of business and the resulting trade receivables are stated at their net realizable value. The allowance for doubtful accounts represents BD’s estimate of probable credit losses relating to trade receivables and is determined based on historical experience and other specific account data. Amounts are written off against the allowances for doubtful accounts when BD determines that a customer account is uncollectible.
Source: 10-K (filing date: 2018-11-21).
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2018-11-21), 10-K (filing date: 2017-11-22), 10-K (filing date: 2016-11-23), 10-K (filing date: 2015-11-25), 10-K (filing date: 2014-11-26), 10-K (filing date: 2013-11-27).
2018 Calculations
1 Allowance as a percentage of trade receivables, gross = 100 × Allowance for doubtful accounts ÷ Trade receivables, gross
= 100 × ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance as a percentage of trade receivables, gross | Allowance for doubtful accounts divided by the gross accounts receivable. | Becton, Dickinson & Co.’s allowance as a percentage of trade receivables, gross declined from 2016 to 2017 but then slightly increased from 2017 to 2018. |