Specific revenue recognition applications

Revenue is usually recognized at delivery, but sometime before the delivery or after delivery

  • Long-term contracts (15)
  • Percentage-of-completion method (16)
    • when outcome of contract can be reliably estimated
    • Revenue, expense, profit are recognized as work is performed.
  • Completed-contract  method (17)
    • When the outcome of the project can not be reliably measured
    • Revenue is recognized to the extent of contract costs
    • Revenue, expense, profit are recognized only when the contract is complete

Effects of using different revenues

  • Installment sales (18)
    • Occurs when payments are expected to be received over an extended period
    • Installment method (19)
      • Used when collectibility can not be reasonably estimated
      • Profit recognized as cash is collected
      • Profit = cash collected * total expected profit as a percentage of sales
    • Cost recovery method (19)
      • The method is used when collectibility is highly uncertain 
      • Profit recognized only cash collected > cost incurred
    • Both cost recovery and installment method are typically used for real estate
  • Example of effect using installment and the cost recovery methods 
  • Barter Transactions (20)
    • Two parties exchange goods or services without cash payment
    • Round-trip transaction involves the sale of goods to one party with simultaneous purchase of almost identical goods from the same party 
    • Revenue from barter transaction 
      • can be recognized at fair value only if the firm has received cash payment for such goods in the past
      • Otherwise → record revenue at carrying value of the asset surrendered
  • Gross and Net Reporting of revenue 
    • Gross revenue reporting (21): report sales revenue and cost of goods sold separately
    • Net revenue reporting (22): Only difference in sales and cost is reported
      • Profit is the same, sales are higher using gross revenue
  • Condition to use gross revenue: 
    • Primary Obligor under the contract
    • Bear inventory and credit risk 
    • Be able to choose its supplier 
    • Reasonable latitude to establish the price 
  • Implication for financial analysis
    • Two to consider when analyzing a firm’s revenue
      • How conversative are the firm’s revenue recognition policies 
      • The extent to which the firm’s policies rely on judgement and estimates

Notes: 

  • Accrual method: Method of accounting transactions for revenue when earned and expense incurred
  • transaction price: The price of a good or service expressed relative to the same quantity of another good or service. Transaction prices help distinguish price changes due to inflation from real price changes.
  • Ending inventory is the cost of those goods on hand at the end of a reporting period. 
  • Long-term contracts
    • Long-term contract means a contract of more than five years in duration