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Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK)
Analysis of Property, Plant and Equipment
Difficulty: Advanced
Property, Plant and Equipment Accounting Policy
Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the assets, principally using the straight-line method. For tax purposes, accelerated tax methods are used. The estimated useful lives primarily range from 25 to 45 years for Buildings, and from 3 to 15 years for Machinery, equipment and office furnishings. Depreciation expense was $1.4 billion in 2018, $1.5 billion in 2017 and $1.6 billion in 2016.
Source: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27).
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure
Merck & Co. Inc., Statement of Financial Position, Property, Plant and Equipment
US$ in millions
| Dec 31, 2018 | Dec 31, 2017 | Dec 31, 2016 | Dec 31, 2015 | Dec 31, 2014 | |||||||
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| Machinery, equipment and office furnishings | |
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| Construction in progress | |
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| Property, plant and equipment, at cost | |
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| Accumulated depreciation | |
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| Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).
| Item | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Property, plant and equipment, at cost | 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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s property, plant and equipment, at cost increased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation | 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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation increased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Property, Plant and Equipment Ratios (Summary)
Merck & Co. 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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| Estimated remaining life (years) | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).
| 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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level. |
| 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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Estimated time elapsed since purchase | The approximate age in years of a company’s fixed assets. Useful for comparison purposes. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
| Estimated remaining life | Merck & Co. Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 and 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) | ||||||
| Accumulated depreciation | |
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| Property, plant and equipment, at cost | |
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| Land | |
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| Ratio | ||||||
| Average age1 | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).
2018 Calculations
1 Average age = 100 × Accumulated depreciation ÷ (Property, plant and equipment, at cost – 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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s average age of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 but then improved from 2017 to 2018 exceeding 2016 level. |
Estimated Total Useful Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).
2018 Calculations
1 Estimated total useful life (years) = (Property, plant and equipment, at cost – 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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s estimated total useful life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 and 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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| Ratio | ||||||
| Time elapsed since purchase (years)1 | |
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Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).
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. | Merck & Co. Inc.’s estimated time elapsed since purchase of depreciable property, plant and equipment deteriorated from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |
Estimated Remaining Life
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2016-02-26), 10-K (filing date: 2015-02-27).
2018 Calculations
1 Estimated remaining life (years) = (Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation – Land) ÷ Depreciation expense
= ( – ) ÷ =
| Ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated remaining life | Merck & Co. Inc.’s estimated remaining life of depreciable property, plant and equipment increased from 2016 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2018. |