Income Statement Analysis

.     Income Statement

 

Referencing this week’s readings and lecture, address the following: 

o    What are the two causes of an increasing or decreasing sales number?

o    Discuss all the reasons that might explain an increase or decrease in gross profit.

Respond to at least two of your classmates posts.

2.     Analyzing an Income Statement

 

Income statements are presented in the table below for the Elf Corporation for the years ending December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008. Write a one-paragraph analysis of Elf Corporation’s profit performance for the period.  Create a common-sized income statement for the three years. What conclusions can you draw from the different parts of the statement? What are the causes and effects of Elf’s performance for those three years?  



Elf Corporation Income Statements for the Years Ending December 31

(in millions) 2010 2009 2008
Sales $700 $650 $550
Cost of goods sold   350   325   275
Gross profit   350   325   275
Operating Expenses:      
Administrative   100   100   100
Advertising and marketing     50     75     75
Operating profit $200 $150 $100
Interest expense     70     50     30
Earnings before tax $130 $100 $  70
Tax expense (50%)     65     50     35
Net income $  65 $  50 $  35