What is a Profit Margin? In accounting and finance, a profit margin is a measure of a company’s earnings (or profits) relative to its revenue. The three main profit margin metrics are gross profit margin (total revenue minus cost of goods sold (COGS) ), operating profit margin (revenue minus COGS and operating expenses), and net profit margin (revenue…
Accounts Payable vs Accounts Receivable In accounting, confusion sometimes arises when working between accounts payable vs accounts receivable. The two types of accounts are very similar in the way they are recorded, but it is important to differentiate between accounts payable vs accounts receivable because one of them is an asset account and the other…
Audited Financial Statements Public companies are obligated by law to ensure that their financial statements are audited by a registered certified public accountant (CPA). The purpose of the independent audit is to provide assurance that company management has presented financial statements that are free from material error. Additionally, hiring an independent and qualified CPA provides…
What is Section 338? The United States Congress enacted Section 338 in 1982 to allow taxpayers to treat certain qualified stock purchases as asset acquisitions for federal income tax purposes. Section 338 provides two elections: the so-called “regular Section 338 election” under Section 338(g), and the other under Section 338(h)(10). These elections treat a stock…
What is Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)? Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) measures the “direct cost” incurred in the production of any goods or services. It includes material cost, direct labor cost, and direct factory overheads, and is directly proportional to revenue. As revenue increases, more resources are required to produce the goods or service….
What is a Cost Driver? A cost driver is the direct cause of a cost and its effect is on the total cost incurred. For example, if you are to determine the amount of electricity consumed in a particular period, the number of units consumed determines the total bill for electricity. In such a scenario, the…
What is the Energy Industry Comps Template? The energy industry comps template allows investors to compare one energy company to other ones in the same industry. This method helps to determine the relative value of a particular company. This template looks at Occidental Petroleum which is one of the largest energy company in the United…
What is Variance Analysis? Variance analysis can be summarized as an analysis of the difference between planned and actual numbers. The sum of all variances gives a picture of the overall over-performance or under-performance for a particular reporting period. For each item, companies assess their favorability by comparing actual costs to standard costs in the industry….
What is a Capital Expenditure (CapEx)? A capital expenditure (“CapEx” for short) is the payment with either cash or credit to purchase long-term physical or fixed assets used in a business’s operations. The expenditures are capitalized (i.e., not expensed directly on a company’s income statement) on the balance sheet and are considered an investment by…
What is Goodwill Impairment? Goodwill is acquired and recorded on the books when an acquirer purchases a target for more than the fair market value of the target’s net assets (assets minus liabilities). Per accounting standards, goodwill is recorded as an intangible asset and evaluated periodically for any possible impairment in value. Private companies in…
