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.
Becton, Dickinson & Co., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity (quarterly data)
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-Q (reporting date: 2022-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2021-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2020-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2019-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2018-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2017-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2016-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2016-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-12-31).
- Current Debt Obligations
- The current debt obligations show notable volatility across the periods, with initial decreases from 1951 million US$ at the end of 2015 to as low as 203 million US$ in the third quarter of 2017. Subsequently, the values fluctuate significantly, peaking again at 4357 million US$ in the first quarter of 2020 before dropping to minimal levels and then rising once more to around 1051 million US$ by the first quarter of 2022.
- Payables, Accrued Expenses, and Other Current Liabilities
- This item exhibits a gradual increasing trend, starting at 2578 million US$ in late 2015 and rising to over 5600 million US$ by early 2022. The increase is relatively steady, with periodic accelerations during late 2017 and from 2020 onwards.
- Current Liabilities
- Current liabilities overall show an upward trend with fluctuations, rising from approximately 4500 million US$ at the end of 2015 to a peak near 7749 million US$ at the end of 2021 before a slight decrease towards the first quarter of 2022. Notably, there is a sharp increase during 2017 and again near the end of 2021, reflecting changes in both current debt obligations and payables.
- Long-Term Debt, Excluding Current Portion
- The long-term debt level remains generally high with some pronounced fluctuations. From roughly 10,858 million US$ at the end of 2015, it peaks significantly at over 22,000 million US$ in late 2017, then declines steadily to around 16,360 million US$ by the end of 2021, before increasing again to 17,584 million US$ in early 2022. This pattern indicates periods of debt refinancing or capital restructuring.
- Long-Term Employee Benefit Obligations
- These obligations remain relatively stable throughout the periods, with minor fluctuations around a central value approximately between 800 million and 1,435 million US$. A slight rising trend towards the end of 2020 is observed, followed by a gradual decline in early 2022.
- Deferred Income Taxes and Other Liabilities
- This category shows considerable volatility, with values ranging from above 2,000 million US$ to a peak nearing 6,000 million US$ between 2016 and 2018. After peaking, the values decrease steadily, ending at around 4,973 million US$ in the first quarter of 2022, indicating changes in tax positions or deferred liabilities management.
- Noncurrent Liabilities
- Noncurrent liabilities display marked variation, rising sharply from approximately 14,294 million US$ at the end of 2015 to over 29,000 million US$ in 2017, followed by a general stabilization around the 23,000 to 24,000 million US$ range through 2022. The initial spike corresponds to increases in long-term debt and other noncurrent obligations.
- Total Liabilities
- Total liabilities reflect the aggregated effect of current and noncurrent obligations. Amounts increase considerably from roughly 18,823 million US$ in late 2015 to peaks exceeding 34,000 million US$ during 2017, then stabilize near 30,000 million US$ with moderate fluctuations through early 2022.
- Shareholders’ Equity
- Shareholders’ equity follows a strong growth trajectory, increasing from approximately 7,223 million US$ at the end of 2015 to a high near 24,000 million US$ by late 2020, with modest variation afterward. This denotes significant capital accumulation, possibly from retained earnings and capital contributions, despite some fluctuations aligned with treasury stock transactions.
- Treasury Stock
- Treasury stock values indicate active share repurchases or retirements. The negative balance declines from around -8,250 million US$ in 2015 to about -6,138 million US$ in late 2020, then intensifies again towards -7,866 million US$ in 2021. These swings may impact equity and reflect strategic capital management decisions.
- Overall Financial Position
- The total liabilities and shareholders’ equity combined show a significant increase from approximately 26,046 million US$ in 2015 to a peak above 55,000 million US$ around 2017, followed by stabilization in the 53,000 to 55,000 million US$ range. This overall growth reflects expanding capital structure and possibly business growth or acquisitions during the analyzed period.