60. “You Decide” Essay
You are the accounting manager for a mid-sized electronics retailer. Your accounting intern is having trouble
understanding how your company accounts for its investments in the stock of other companies. You just spent
the better part of the morning reviewing in detail all of the recording and reporting requirements but the intern is
still fuzzy.
Complete the following table to compare and contrast for your intern the requirements for the different types of
stock investments that your company might make. Be sure to use the legend provided.
Investments in Equity Securities
Investments in
Equity Securities
Impact of Dividend Receipts
Reporting of Unrealized Gains and
Losses
Passive Investment – Trading
(own <20% of the stock)
Passive Investment – Available-for-Sale
(own <20% of the stock)
Significant Influence
(own 20% to 50% of the stock)
Control
(own >50% of the stock)
Legend:
Accounting Method: Equity method, Equity method + Consolidation, or Fair value method
Impact of Dividend Receipts: Decrease investment, Eliminated, or Increase income
Reporting of unrealized gains/losses: Balance sheet, Income statement, or Not recognized
Accounting for Investments in Debt and Equity Securities
Investments in
Equity Securities
Accounting
Method
Impact of Dividend Receipts
Reporting of Unrealized Gains/Losses
Passive Investment – Trading
(own <20% of the stock)
Fair Value
Net Income
Income Statement
Passive Investment – Available-for-Sale
(own <20% of the stock)
Fair Value
Net Income
Balance Sheet
Significant Influence
(own 20% to 50% of the stock)
Equity Method
Reduces Investment
Not Recognized
Control
(own >50% of the stock)
Equity Method
+ Consolidation
Eliminated
Not Recognized