Balance Sheet: Assets

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.

Assets are resources controlled by the company as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.

Ecolab Inc., consolidated balance sheet: assets

US$ in thousands

	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents	359,900)	1,260,200)	186,400)	114,700)	211,400)
Accounts receivable, net	2,478,400)	2,273,800)	2,796,500)	2,662,500)	2,574,100)
Inventories	1,491,800)	1,285,200)	1,505,600)	1,546,400)	1,445,900)
Prepaid assets	121,200)	99,100)	118,800)	132,100)	153,500)
Taxes receivable	151,300)	168,600)	133,700)	144,200)	129,200)
Derivative assets	61,400)	3,200)	54,300)	42,800)	28,800)
Other	23,100)	27,300)	33,100)	35,000)	53,500)
Other current assets	357,000)	298,200)	339,900)	354,100)	365,000)
Current assets	4,687,100)	5,117,400)	4,828,400)	4,677,700)	4,596,400)
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,288,500)	3,124,900)	3,954,900)	3,836,000)	3,707,100)
Goodwill	8,063,900)	6,006,900)	7,251,700)	7,078,000)	7,167,100)
Other intangible assets, net	4,224,100)	2,977,000)	3,672,500)	3,797,700)	4,017,600)
Operating lease assets	396,800)	423,800)	577,500)	—)	—)
Deferred income taxes	120,600)	163,200)	155,600)	105,100)	102,200)
Pension	114,600)	33,000)	31,100)	39,000)	41,700)
Derivative asset	29,400)	—)	25,400)	11,800)	—)
Restricted cash	—)	—)	—)	179,300)	—)
Other	281,400)	279,800)	372,000)	349,900)	330,300)
Other assets	546,000)	476,000)	584,100)	685,100)	474,200)
Noncurrent assets	16,519,300)	13,008,600)	16,040,700)	15,396,800)	15,366,000)
Total assets	21,206,400)	18,126,000)	20,869,100)	20,074,500)	19,962,400)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

Cash and cash equivalents: The cash balance exhibited significant fluctuations, decreasing from 211,400 thousand in 2017 to 114,700 thousand in 2018, then rising to 1,260,200 thousand by 2020 before declining again to 359,900 thousand in 2021. This indicates periods of large cash inflows and sizable outflows within these years.
Accounts receivable, net: Accounts receivable grew steadily from 2,574,100 thousand in 2017 to a peak of 2,796,500 thousand in 2019, but then decreased sharply to 2,273,800 thousand in 2020, followed by a modest recovery to 2,478,400 thousand in 2021. This pattern suggests variability in credit sales or collections efficiency, particularly in 2020.
Inventories: Inventory levels rose gradually from 1,445,900 thousand in 2017 to 1,546,400 thousand in 2018, then declined through 2020 to 1,285,200 thousand before increasing again to 1,491,800 thousand in 2021. This trend may reflect adjustments in supply chain management or demand forecasting, with a dip linked to the 2020 economic environment.
Prepaid assets: Prepaid assets showed a consistent decline from 153,500 thousand in 2017 to a low of 99,100 thousand in 2020 before a slight increase to 121,200 thousand in 2021, indicating a reduced advance payment trend or cost deferral in the later years.
Taxes receivable: Taxes receivable amount experienced moderate variation, increasing steadily until 2018, then fluctuating but showing no strong upward or downward trend overall, ending at 151,300 thousand in 2021.
Derivative assets: Derivative assets fluctuated considerably, peaking at 54,300 thousand in 2019, plummeting to 3,200 thousand in 2020, and surging again to 61,400 thousand in 2021. This volatility may relate to changes in hedging strategies or market conditions affecting derivative valuations.
Other current assets: Other current assets decreased gradually from 365,000 thousand in 2017 to 298,200 thousand in 2020 before recovering to 357,000 thousand in 2021, reflecting modest shifts in miscellaneous current assets.
Current assets: Total current assets steadily increased from 4,596,400 thousand in 2017 to 5,117,400 thousand in 2020, then contracted to 4,687,100 thousand in 2021, possibly impacted by changes in liquidity management or operating activities in 2021.
Property, plant and equipment, net: Net property, plant, and equipment showed overall growth from 3,707,100 thousand in 2017 to 3,954,900 thousand in 2019, followed by a sharp decline to 3,124,900 thousand in 2020 and a partial recovery to 3,288,500 thousand in 2021. This decrease in 2020 may indicate asset disposals or impairments.
Goodwill: Goodwill remained relatively stable around 7,167,100 to 7,251,700 thousand from 2017 through 2019, then decreased to 6,006,900 thousand in 2020 before rising notably to 8,063,900 thousand in 2021. Changes suggest acquisitions or impairment adjustments in this period.
Other intangible assets, net: There was a general decline from 4,017,600 thousand in 2017 to 2,977,000 thousand in 2020, followed by a sharp increase to 4,224,100 thousand in 2021, reflecting reassessments or additions to intangible assets.
Operating lease assets: Operating lease assets appeared starting in 2019 with a value of 577,500 thousand, then declined over the next two years to 396,800 thousand in 2021, indicating recognition and subsequent amortization or disposals of leased assets.
Deferred income taxes: Deferred income taxes increased from 102,200 thousand in 2017 to a peak of 163,200 thousand in 2020, then reduced to 120,600 thousand in 2021, suggesting changes in temporary differences or tax planning strategies.
Pension: Pension-related assets/liabilities declined from 41,700 thousand in 2017 to 31,100 thousand in 2019, followed by a slight rise and a significant jump to 114,600 thousand in 2021. This indicates changing pension obligations or related asset valuations.
Other assets and derivative asset: Other assets increased notably from 474,200 thousand in 2017 to 685,100 thousand in 2018, then declined to 476,000 thousand in 2020 before rising again to 546,000 thousand in 2021. The derivative asset fluctuated modestly around 11,800 to 29,400 thousand in the years it was recorded, revealing variable exposure to derivative instruments.
Noncurrent assets: Noncurrent assets showed moderate growth from 15,366,000 thousand in 2017 to 16,040,700 thousand in 2019, then declined sharply to 13,008,600 thousand in 2020 before rising to 16,519,300 thousand in 2021. This reflects a corresponding pattern to property and intangible assets, possibly from disposals and subsequent acquisitions or revaluations.
Total assets: Total assets remained relatively flat between 19,962,400 thousand in 2017 and 20,874,500 thousand in 2019, then declined sharply to 18,126,000 thousand in 2020 before rebounding to 21,206,400 thousand in 2021. This fluctuation corresponds with the trends observed in both current and noncurrent assets, indicating variability in asset management and investment activities over the period.

Assets: Selected Items

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Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Balance Sheet: Assets

Assets: Selected Items

Current Assets: Selected Items