Get real! – Using normalized earnings to clarify financial statements

Description

Abstract: In a time of great economic uncertainty, the estimated value of a given company can seemingly turn on a dime. To bring clarity to the situation, appraisers can calculate a company’s “normalized earnings.” This process allows them to determine, among other things, whether a struggling business is being mismanaged or whether a prosperous company is doing as well as it seems. This article looks at the different accounting methods that may lead to a need for adjustments, and examines the kinds of adjustments that valuators make.