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The Pier Shareware 6
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RUL.TXT
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1994-10-15
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New Accounting Rule Hits Common Stocks
A traditional way to value common stock is by
determining its book value, which is what a company
would be worth if it sold all its assets and paid all
its liabilities. Now, FAS 106, a new accounting
procedure that requires companies to show the cost of
retiree health benefits in their annual accounting, is
changing the way investors look at book value.
Some analysts believe FAS 106 will cause no
fundamental change in book value because companies have
always had the expense of retiree health benefits.
Not so, say accountants and pension consultants.
One major public accounting firm has estimated that the
new rule will reduce the book value of the nation's
largest industrial companies by 7 percent this year.
The firm predicts another 7.8 percent decline in book
value over the next 10 years.
The FAS 106 accounting requirement impacts book
value in two ways. First, each company effected will
take a one-time "catch-up" charge that will immediately
reduce book value. The numbers vary among companies,
but major corporations have already estimated
transition charges of $250 million to more than $2.7
billion against book value.
The second way FAS 106 affects book value is that
reported earnings will be reduced by annual charges
each year. Because earnings won't be as high,
increases in annual book value won't be as great.
Although the cost of retiree health benefits has
always been an expense, the mandatory FAS 106 reporting
now makes it clear that current and future shareholders
are farther back in line when it comes to being paid.
Future health benefits as part of labor costs.
Because the costs of retiree health benefits have
previously been omitted in accounting, labor costs as
reported to shareholders were understated. This
resulted in profits being overstated. In short,
accounting did not accurately reflect actual costs.
Shareholders must now re-evaluate the true earnings
power of their corporate shares.
Whether FAS 106 is considered a reduction of
earnings, book value or both, it is hard to ignore the
fact that it will affect the way common stock is
evaluated. Large corporations with strong unions have
already felt the effect of FAS 106 on their bottom
line.
How the stock market will react to these changes
is yet to be seen. If financial analysts overlook the
changes in book value and earnings, we will see little
change. On the other hand, if analysts choose to see a
real decline in book value and earnings, the market
could follow to more accurately reflect the true value
of the stock.
Either way, you should be aware of FAS 106 and
know that, in some way, it will change the way we value
common stocks.