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.
Emerson Electric Co., consolidated balance sheet: liabilities and stockholders’ equity (quarterly data)
US$ in millions
Based on: 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), 10-K (reporting date: 2015-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2015-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2014-09-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-06-30), 10-Q (reporting date: 2014-03-31), 10-Q (reporting date: 2013-12-31).
The analysis of the balance sheet reveals a strategic emphasis on capital redistribution and a fluctuating approach to short-term liability management between December 2013 and March 2020.
- Liability Structure and Trends
- Total liabilities exhibited significant volatility, characterized by a notable contraction in late 2016. Total liabilities fell from $14.1 billion in September 2016 to $9.7 billion by December 2016. This sharp decline was primarily driven by a reduction in short-term borrowings and current maturities of long-term debt, which plummeted from $2.58 billion to $254 million. Following this period, liabilities trended upward, returning to $14.1 billion by March 2020, driven largely by an increase in current liabilities to $7.9 billion.
- Equity Dynamics and Capital Allocation
- A distinct divergence is observed between the growth of retained earnings and the overall decline in total equity. Retained earnings grew steadily from $19.1 billion in December 2013 to $24.4 billion by March 2020, indicating consistent profitability. However, total equity decreased from $10.9 billion to $7.6 billion over the same interval. This contraction is directly attributable to the aggressive acquisition of treasury stock, with the cost of common stock in treasury increasing from $9.2 billion to $15.9 billion, signaling a prioritized return of capital to shareholders via buybacks.
- Long-Term Debt and Obligations
- Long-term debt, excluding current maturities, remained relatively stable, generally fluctuating between $2.6 billion and $4.3 billion. A peak in long-term obligations occurred in June 2019 at $4.3 billion before settling at $3.96 billion by March 2020. Noncurrent liabilities overall mirrored this stability, though they experienced a temporary dip in late 2016 and early 2017 before stabilizing around $6.2 billion.
- Comprehensive Loss Impact
- Accumulated other comprehensive loss widened significantly over the reporting period. Starting at $146 million in December 2013, these losses grew to $1.9 billion by March 2020. While some periodic recoveries occurred, the overall trend exerted a persistent downward pressure on the total stockholders' equity.
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