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Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW)
Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment
Difficulty: Advanced
Property, Plant and Equipment Accounting Policy
Net plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Renewals and improvements that increase the useful life of plant and equipment are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
ITW’s U.S. businesses primarily compute depreciation on an accelerated basis. The majority of ITW’s international businesses compute depreciation on a straight-line basis. The ranges of useful lives used to depreciate plant and equipment are as follows:
| Buildings and improvements | 5—50 years |
| Machinery and equipment | 3—12 years |
| Equipment leased to others | Term of lease |
Depreciation was $272 million, $256 million and $246 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15).
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure
Illinois Tool Works Inc., balance sheet: property, plant and equipment
US$ in millions
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| Gross plant and equipment | |
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| Net plant and equipment | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-10), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-12), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-13).
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Gross plant and equipment | Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s gross plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Net plant and equipment | Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s net plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Property, Plant and Equipment Ratios (Summary)
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Property, Plant and Equipment Ratios
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Estimated total useful life (years) | |
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| Estimated age, time elapsed since purchase (years) | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-10), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-12), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-13).
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Average age | As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Estimated total useful life | Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018. |
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level. |
| Estimated remaining life | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018. |
Average Age
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
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| Average age1 | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-10), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-12), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-13).
2018 Calculations
1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation ÷ (Gross plant and equipment – Land)
= 100 × ÷ ( – ) =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Average age | As long as straight-line depreciation is used, this is an accurate estimate of asset age as a percentage of depreciable life. The relative age is a useful measure of whether the company’s fixed asset base is old or new. Newer assets are likely to be more efficient. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Estimated Total Useful Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-10), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-12), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-13).
2018 Calculations
1 Estimated total useful life (years) = (Gross plant and equipment – Land) ÷ Depreciation expense
= ( – ) ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated total useful life | Over longer time periods, this ratio is a useful measure of company’s depreciation policy and can be used for comparisons with competitors. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018. |
Estimated Age, Time Elapsed since Purchase
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | |
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| Depreciation expense | |
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| Time elapsed since purchase (years)1 | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-10), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-12), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-13).
2018 Calculations
1 Time elapsed since purchase (years) = Accumulated depreciation ÷ Depreciation expense
= ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level. |
Estimated Remaining Life
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | ||
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| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Net plant and equipment | |
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| Depreciation expense | |
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| Estimated remaining life (years)1 | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-15), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-10), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-12), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-13).
2018 Calculations
1 Estimated remaining life (years) = (Net plant and equipment – Land) ÷ Depreciation expense
= ( – ) ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated remaining life | Illinois Tool Works Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 but then declined significantly from 2017 to 2018. |