Which method of inventory costing will yield the lowest gross profit and income?

Accounting, Analysis, and Principles

Englehart Company sells two types of pumps. One is large and is for commercial use. The other is smaller and is used in residentialswimming pools. The following inventory data is available for the month of March.

Price per

Units Unit Total

Residential Pumps

Inventory at Feb. 28: 200 $ 400 $ 80,000

Purchases:

March 10 500 $ 450 $225,000

March 20 400 $ 475 $190,000

March 30 300 $ 500 $150,000

Sales:

March 15 500 $ 540 $270,000

March 25 400 $ 570 $228,000

Inventory at March 31: 500

Commercial Pumps

Inventory at Feb. 28: 600 $ 800 $480,000

Purchases:

March 3 600 $ 900 $540,000

March 12 300 $ 950 $285,000

March 21 500 $1,000 $500,000

Sales:

March 18 900 $1,080 $972,000

March 29 600 $1,140 $684,000

Inventory at March 31: 500

Accounting

(a) Assuming Englehart uses a periodic inventory system, determine the cost of inventory on hand at March 31 and thecost of goods sold for March under first-in, first-out (FIFO).

(b) Assume Englehart uses dollar-value LIFO and one pool, consisting of the combination of residential and commercialpumps. Determine the cost of inventory on hand at March 31 and the cost of goods sold for March. Assume Englehart’sinitial adoption of LIFO is on March 1. Use the double-extension method to determine the appropriate price indices.

(Hint: The price index for February 28/March 1 should be 1.00.) (Round the index to three decimal places.)

Analysis

(a) Assume you need to compute a current ratio for Englehart. Which inventory method (FIFO or dollar-value LIFO) doyou think would give you a more meaningful current ratio?

(b) Some of Englehart’s competitors use LIFO inventory costing and some use FIFO. How can an analyst compare theresults of companies in an industry, when some use LIFO and others use FIFO?

Principles

Can companies change from one inventory accounting method to another? If a company changes to an inventory accounting methodused by most of its competitors, what are the trade-offs in terms of the conceptual framework discussed in Chapter 2 of the textbook?

Your company has three inventory costing methods from which to choose. The choice is important because it influences your cost of goods sold, net income and income tax payable. Whichever method you choose, accounting rules call for you to stick with it; the Internal Revenue Service might not allow you to flip-flop your accounting method just to take advantage of the latest price trend.

About Costing Methods

Last-in, first-out, or LIFO, uses the most recent costs first. When prices are rising, you prefer LIFO because it gives you the highest cost of goods sold and the lowest taxable income. First-in, first-out, or FIFO, applies the earliest costs first. In rising markets, FIFO yields the lowest cost of goods sold and the highest taxable income. If you sell one-of-a-kind items like custom jewelry, you might prefer the specific identification method. You record the cost of each item, so the cost of goods sold doesn’t require as much fancy math.

Periodic Inventory Under LIFO

When you use the periodic, or book, inventory system, you value your inventory at specific intervals and lump together the results. For example, suppose you purchase 10 items at $100 each on the first of the month. On the 14th, you sell six items and on the 16th buy another 10 for $120 each. You sell eight items on the 19th and buy another 10 on the 23rd for $130 each. On the last day of the month, you sell nine items. Under periodic inventory LIFO, your cost of goods sold is the sum of 10 items times $130, 10 items times $120 and three items times $100. This adds up to $2,800, and you value your remaining inventory at $700.

Perpetual Inventory Under LIFO

In the perpetual inventory system, you figure the cost at the time of each sale instead of at specific intervals. Your cost of goods sold on the 14th is six items times $100, or $600. The sale on the 19th costs $120 times eight units, or $960. The last sale costs $130 times nine items, or $1,170. Notice that each sale uses the latest item cost, which simplifies the math. The total cost is $2,730, or $70 less than the cost under the periodic inventory method. Your remaining inventory tallies in at $770. Your taxable income is $70 less using the periodic inventory system. If you are in the 25 percent bracket, this translates into a tax savings of $17.50.

Things to Consider

Since prices always seem to increase over time, LIFO is a good bet for consistently maximizing your cost of goods sold. The example deals with a retail situation but also applies to product manufacturers. However, if you manufacture products using raw materials that fluctuate in price, such as petroleum, you may not always benefit from the LIFO method. The IRS lets you initially choose your inventory accounting method but wants you to use it consistently year to year. If you choose LIFO, you must file IRS Form 970 in the first year you use this method. If you want to change methods, you might need to ask for IRS approval by filing Form 3115.

What inventory method produces the lowest gross profit?

Which inventory costing method produces the lowest net income?

Does LIFO yield lowest gross profit?

Which method of inventory costing will produce the lowest cost of goods sold?