Highest-In First-Out (HIFO)

What is Highest-In First-Out (HIFO)?

Highest-In First-Out (HIFO) is a type of stock distribution and valuation method. The HIFO method follows the concept that stock or inventory with the greatest purchasing costs is first to be sold, used, or removed from the stock or inventory count. The use of HIFO is not recognized by GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and is hardly used in accounting.

Following the HIFO method, at the end of an accounting period, the inventory will be recorded at the lowest possible value, and costs of goods sold (COGS) will be the highest possible value.

Highest-in First-out is typically used by corporations looking to minimize their taxable earnings for a particular accounting period. HIFO allows for the costliest inventory to be sold first, regardless of when it was purchased, thereby driving up the value of the cost of goods sold, and lowering taxable earnings.

Also, HIFO will record high inventory turnover because the closing or ending inventory is valued at its lowest amount.

Understanding Stock and Inventory Valuation

Inventory valuation is the costing methodology used to determine the value of unsold stock at the end of a period. Apart from HIFO, there are seven other methods of inventory valuation. They include:

1. First-in First-out (FIFO) method
2. Last-in First-out (LIFO) method
3. Base stock method
4. Inflated price method
5. Standard price method
6. Market or replacement price method
7. Average cost method

An Overview of FIFO and LIFO

First-In First-Out (FIFO)

FIFO is a stock or inventory valuation and control method used to determine cash flows concerning the computation of COGS. The FIFO method follows the assumption that the oldest stock items in a company’s inventory are sold first. That means that the inventory purchased first before other additional purchases occurred is sold first.

The costs spent on the oldest inventory used in the FIFO computation (i.e., COGS). An example of the FIFO method for determining COGS is explained below:

Company XYZ sold 1,000 units of a product. There were 750 units originally purchased by Company XYZ at $15.00 and 250 units purchased at $25.00. The company cannot assign the original purchase cost of $15.00 to each unit sold. The cost can only be assigned to the 750 units sold. The remaining inventory of 250 units must be allocated at a higher purchase price – i.e., $25.00.

It is important to know that the items must’ve been sold to form part of the COGS computation, as it cannot be applied to unsold inventory. The FIFO method is widely used and preferred over LIFO.

Below is an example of a FIFO Excel computation:

Last-In First-Out (LIFO)

Referencing an article by the CFI, LIFO is “an inventory valuation method based on the assumption that assets produced or acquired last are the first to be expensed. In other words, under the Last-in First-out method, the latest purchased or produced goods are removed and expensed first. Therefore, the old inventory costs remain on the balance sheet while the newest inventory costs are expensed first.”

Although the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) only permits the use of the FIFO method, the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles allow for the use of both FIFO and LIFO methods (respectively). Hence, companies that fall under the GAAP reporting standards can choose between the two methods.

Below is an example of a LIFO Excel computation:

Learn More

CFI offers the Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst (CBCA)™ certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and developing your knowledge base, please explore the additional relevant resources below:

• Accounting Cycle
• IFRS vs. US GAAP
• LIFO vs. FIFO
• Projecting Balance Sheet Line Items
• See all accounting resources