July 2009
Intermediate to advanced
600 pages
19h 50m
English
In the last 20 years, we have seen a shift from manufacturing firms to service and technology firms in the global economy. The change has been greatest in the U.S. As we value more and more pharmaceutical, technology, and service companies, we are faced with two realities. The first is that the assets of these firms are often intangible and invisible—patents, know-how, and human capital. The second is that the way in which accounting has dealt with investments in these assets is inconsistent with its treatment of investments in tangible assets at manufacturing firms. As a result, many of the basic inputs that we use in valuation—earnings, cash flows, and return on capital—are contaminated. ...
Read now
Unlock full access