Analysis of Bad Debts
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable (bad debts) is a contra account which reduce the balance of the company’s gross accounts receivable. The relationship between the allowance and the balance in receivables should be relatively constant unless there is a change in the economy overall or a change in customer base.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable
Based on: 10-K (filing date: 2021-02-25), 10-K (filing date: 2020-02-27), 10-K (filing date: 2019-02-28), 10-K (filing date: 2018-02-22), 10-K (filing date: 2017-02-23).
1 2020 Calculation
Allowance as a percentage of trade accounts receivable, gross = 100 × Allowance for doubtful accounts ÷ Trade accounts receivable, gross
= 100 × 508 ÷ 8,438 = 6.02%
| Financial ratio | Description | The company |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance as a percentage of trade accounts receivable, gross | Allowance for doubtful accounts divided by the gross accounts receivable. | Pfizer Inc.’s allowance as a percentage of trade accounts receivable, gross decreased from 2018 to 2019 but then increased from 2019 to 2020 not reaching 2018 level. |