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1. Compare and contrast the limitations and usefulness of the single-step income

ID: 2416421 • Letter: 1

Question

1. Compare and contrast the limitations and usefulness of the single-step income statement and the multi-step income statement. 2. Analyze the gross profit, operating profits, and net income of both Exxon and Chevron for 2012 and 2013. Of the two (2) companies, speculate on the main reasons why one (1) company may have been more profitable than the other company. 3. Compute each company’s price-earnings (P / E) ratio and price-to-sales ratio (PSR). Identify primary estimates or assumptions that could result in overstated earnings, and use the ratio data to compare the quality of each company’s earnings. 4. Review notes to both Exxon’s and Chevron’s financial statements. Next, identify at least two (2) notes pertaining to the income statement, and explain the main way in which the notes in question could influence your decision to invest in each of the companies. Provide a rationale to justify your decision

EXXON 2012 2013 GROSS PROFIT 117,044 MIL 105,566 MIL OPERATING PROFIT 49,881 MIL 40,301 MIL NET INCOME 32,580 MIL 44,880 MIL P/E RATIO 8.94 12.71 P/S RATIO 0.89 0.98 CHEVRON 2012 2013 GROSS PROFIT 81,863 MIL 77,153 MIL OPERATING PROFIT 39,492 MIL 27,726 MIL NET INCOME 26,179 MIL 21,423 MIL P/E RATIO 8.61 10.04 P/S RATIO 0.98 0.98

Explanation / Answer

EXXON

2012

2013

GROSS PROFIT - In Million

$             117,044

$ 105,566

OPERATING PROFIT - In Million

$               49,881

$   40,301

NET INCOME - In Million

$               32,580

$   44,880

P/E RATIO

8.94

12.71

P/S RATIO

0.89

0.98

Market Price - P/E * Earnings

$             291,265

$ 570,425

Sales - Market Price/P/S ratio

$            327,264

$ 582,066

Gross Margin Ration - Gross Profit/Sales

0.36

0.18

Operating Income Ratio - Operating Proft/Net sales

0.15

0.07

Earnings per share growth rate

-

37.75%

PEG Ratio - P/E ratio/Annua earnings per share growth rate

-

33.67

Profit Margin Ratio - Net Income/Net Sales

0.10

0.08

Return on sales - Operating profit/Net sales

0.15

0.07

CHEVRON

2012

2013

GROSS PROFIT - In Million

$               81,863

$   77,153

OPERATING PROFIT - In Million

$               39,492

$   27,726

NET INCOME - In Million

$               26,179

$   21,423

P/E RATIO

8.61

10.04

P/S RATIO

0.98

0.98

Market Price - P/E * Earnings

$             225,401

$ 215,087

Sales - Market Price/P/S ratio

$             230,001

$ 219,476

Gross Margin Ration - Gross Profit/Sales

0.36

0.35

Operating Income Ratio - Operationg Proft/Net sales

0.17

0.13

Earnings per share growth rate

-

-18.17%

PEG Ratio - P/E ratio/Annua earnings per share growth rate

-

-55.26

Profit Margin Ratio - Net Income/Net Sales

0.11

0.10

Return on sales - Operating profit/Net sales

0.17

0.13

Single Step Income Statement

Multi Step Income Statement

Advantages

The simplified statement shows expenses in a single line for net income, rather than breaking up the results by gross profit and operating profit.

A multiple-step income statement includes an itemized list of a company's various sources of revenues and expenses.

This approach makes the record-keeping task much easier for the accountants who prepare the statements

A multiple-step income statement reveals the company's gross profit

Readers of these statements can also focus on a single number net income to assess the company's health.

Investors and financial analysts often use the data from multiple-step income statements to determine a company's overall health, such as its gross margin and profit margin.

Disadvantages

The most noticeable drawback of the single-step income statement lies in its lack of information. Investors and lenders often assess the worthiness of a company on factors other than its net income

While the multiple-step income statement provides some extensive information on the company's operations, the processes involved in producing details in these statements can be complex and time-consuming.

Without supplying this data, small businesses can miss out on informing potential investors or lenders of their viability and lose out on opportunities to gain more operating capital.

If a transaction is entered into an improper category, the mistake could affect how the income statement displays its results.

Erroneous data on an income statement can lead investors into making faulty assumptions about the company's well-being.

EXXON

2012

2013

GROSS PROFIT - In Million

$             117,044

$ 105,566

OPERATING PROFIT - In Million

$               49,881

$   40,301

NET INCOME - In Million

$               32,580

$   44,880

P/E RATIO

8.94

12.71

P/S RATIO

0.89

0.98

Market Price - P/E * Earnings

$             291,265

$ 570,425

Sales - Market Price/P/S ratio

$            327,264

$ 582,066

Gross Margin Ration - Gross Profit/Sales

0.36

0.18

Operating Income Ratio - Operating Proft/Net sales

0.15

0.07

Earnings per share growth rate

-

37.75%

PEG Ratio - P/E ratio/Annua earnings per share growth rate

-

33.67

Profit Margin Ratio - Net Income/Net Sales

0.10

0.08

Return on sales - Operating profit/Net sales

0.15

0.07

CHEVRON

2012

2013

GROSS PROFIT - In Million

$               81,863

$   77,153

OPERATING PROFIT - In Million

$               39,492

$   27,726

NET INCOME - In Million

$               26,179

$   21,423

P/E RATIO

8.61

10.04

P/S RATIO

0.98

0.98

Market Price - P/E * Earnings

$             225,401

$ 215,087

Sales - Market Price/P/S ratio

$             230,001

$ 219,476

Gross Margin Ration - Gross Profit/Sales

0.36

0.35

Operating Income Ratio - Operationg Proft/Net sales

0.17

0.13

Earnings per share growth rate

-

-18.17%

PEG Ratio - P/E ratio/Annua earnings per share growth rate

-

-55.26

Profit Margin Ratio - Net Income/Net Sales

0.11

0.10

Return on sales - Operating profit/Net sales

0.17

0.13

Single Step Income Statement

Multi Step Income Statement

Advantages

The simplified statement shows expenses in a single line for net income, rather than breaking up the results by gross profit and operating profit.

A multiple-step income statement includes an itemized list of a company's various sources of revenues and expenses.

This approach makes the record-keeping task much easier for the accountants who prepare the statements

A multiple-step income statement reveals the company's gross profit

Readers of these statements can also focus on a single number net income to assess the company's health.

Investors and financial analysts often use the data from multiple-step income statements to determine a company's overall health, such as its gross margin and profit margin.

Disadvantages

The most noticeable drawback of the single-step income statement lies in its lack of information. Investors and lenders often assess the worthiness of a company on factors other than its net income

While the multiple-step income statement provides some extensive information on the company's operations, the processes involved in producing details in these statements can be complex and time-consuming.

Without supplying this data, small businesses can miss out on informing potential investors or lenders of their viability and lose out on opportunities to gain more operating capital.

If a transaction is entered into an improper category, the mistake could affect how the income statement displays its results.

Erroneous data on an income statement can lead investors into making faulty assumptions about the company's well-being.