What is a Non-Current Asset?

Readers looking to understand accounting concepts would agree that clearly defining key terms is an important first step.

This article will clearly explain what a non-current asset is, providing easy-to-understand examples and contrasting non-current assets with current assets.

You'll learn the definition of a non-current asset, see common examples like equipment and trademarks, and gain insight into how non-current assets are handled on financial statements. We'll also explore the strategic importance of managing different types of non-current assets.

Introduction to Non-Current Assets

Non-current assets are long-term investments that are not expected to be converted into cash within a company's normal operating cycle, usually one year. They appear on the balance sheet and are an important part of a company's asset base.

Understanding Non-Current Assets in Accounting

In accounting, non-current assets are defined as assets that a company does not expect to sell or use up within the next year. Some key characteristics of non-current assets:

Not easily converted into cash, so they are considered "illiquid"
Used by the business to generate revenue over a long period of time, usually more than one year
Subject to depreciation or amortization over multiple accounting periods
Appear on the balance sheet under the "Non-Current Assets" section

Common examples include property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), intangible assets like goodwill, and long-term investments.

Contrasting Non-Current and Current Assets

Current assets differ from non-current assets in terms of their liquidity and usage:

Current assets like cash, accounts receivable, and inventory are short-term assets that are expected to be converted into cash or used up within a year.
Non-current assets are illiquid, long-term assets that a company intends to hold for more than a year to generate future economic benefits.

While current assets fuel day-to-day operations, non-current assets comprise the long-term asset base that enables a company to function over extended periods.

Examples of Noncurrent Assets on the Balance Sheet

Typical non-current assets found on the balance sheet include:

Property, plant and equipment (PP&E): Tangible assets like land, buildings, manufacturing equipment, hardware, and real estate that are used in operations
Intangible assets: Goodwill, trademarks, patents, copyrights, brand recognition
Long-term investments: Investments a company intends to hold for more than a year like bonds and stocks
Other assets: Assets that don't fit into other categories such as non-current prepaid expenses, long-term deposits, and cash surrender value of life insurance policies

These assets are capitalized and appear on the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation/amortization. Their value diminishes over time through depreciation/amortization.

The Role of Non-Current Assets in Financial Statements

On the balance sheet, non-current assets provide insight into a company's:

Asset base: The long-term tangible and intangible assets that enable it to function
Financial health: Ability to generate future revenue streams over an extended timeframe
Capital investments: Investments in operational capacity and growth potential

The value of non-current assets like PP&E directly impacts metrics like return on assets. Tracking non-current assets over time provides insight into the management and financial standing of a company.

What is non current assets with examples?

Non-current assets, also known as fixed assets, are assets that a company expects to hold for more than one year. They differ from current assets like cash or accounts receivable, which are used up or converted into cash in less than one year.

Some common examples of non-current assets include:

Property, plant, and equipment (PP&E): This includes tangible assets like land, buildings, machinery, equipment, and vehicles used in business operations. These have long-term useful lives spanning years.
Intangible assets: These lack physical substance but provide long-term value, like patents, trademarks, copyrights, and goodwill. For example, the Coca-Cola brand and secret formula are intangible assets.
Long-term investments: Investments in other companies' stocks and bonds held for more than one year are non-current assets. The hope is these assets will increase in value over the long run.

On a company's balance sheet, non-current assets are listed after current assets like cash and accounts receivable. Their dollar value is impacted by depreciation or amortization over the years.

The key defining trait of non-current assets is their ability to provide economic benefits for more than one year. For example, new equipment purchased this year can be used to manufacture products and generate revenues for many years into the future.

Is bank a non current asset?

A bank account is generally considered a current asset if the funds are expected to be used within one year. However, if the funds are set aside for longer-term purposes, then the bank account would be classified as a non-current asset.

Here are a few key points about bank accounts and non-current assets:

Current assets are assets that a company expects to convert to cash or use up within one year. This includes cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and short-term investments.
Non-current assets are assets that a company plans to hold for longer than one year. Examples include long-term investments, property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), and intangible assets like patents.
Funds in a bank account are typically considered current assets because companies use these liquid funds to meet short-term operating needs.
However, if funds are set aside in a separate bank account for long-term purposes like an acquisition, construction project, or pension obligations, that bank account would be classified as a non-current asset.
The timeframe is the key factor - if the company intends to use the bank funds within 12 months, it's a current asset. Beyond 12 months, it becomes a non-current asset.

In summary, while bank accounts generally contain current assets, they can also hold non-current assets if specifically set aside for uses beyond one year. The company's intent and timeframe determine the classification.

Is accounts receivable a non current asset?

Accounts receivable are typically collected within a year or less. Therefore, they are considered current assets on the balance sheet rather than noncurrent assets.

Some key points about accounts receivable:

Accounts receivable represent money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services delivered.
They are considered current assets because a company expects to convert them to cash within 12 months or less.
In contrast, noncurrent assets are assets that a company does not expect to convert to cash within a year, such as property, plant, and equipment.
On the balance sheet, accounts receivable are usually listed under current assets, separate from noncurrent assets like property and equipment.
Accounts receivable turnover ratio measures how well a company collects its receivables. A high turnover generally indicates efficient collections.

In summary, accounts receivable are current assets, not noncurrent assets, because they are expected to turn into cash within a year or less in the normal course of business. Grouping them under current assets allows investors to distinguish short-term assets from longer-term, noncurrent assets.

Is inventory a non current asset?

Yes, inventory is considered a current asset. Current assets or short-term assets are accounts that track what a company owns and expects to use within a year. Since inventory is intended to be sold within 12 months, it's recorded as a current asset in the balance sheet.

Some key points about inventory as a current asset:

Inventory includes goods ready for sale, raw materials, work-in-progress items, and supplies used in operations.
Inventory is constantly turning over as companies produce goods and sell them to customers.
Companies value inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This conservatively estimates what inventory is worth.
Managing inventory efficiently is important for company operations and profitability. Too much inventory ties up assets; too little can lead to shortages.
Accounting rules require inventory to be tracked as a current asset as it will convert to cash within one year during the normal business cycle.

In summary, inventory fits the criteria of a current asset because it is:

A physical asset that is available for sale by the company
Expected to be sold and convert to cash within 12 months during normal business operations

Types of Non-Current Assets

Non-current assets are long-term investments and resources that a company uses for its operations and growth. This section categorizes these assets into tangible and intangible forms.

Fixed Assets: Tangible Long-Term Resources

Fixed assets like property, plants, and equipment (PP&E) are tangible resources a company owns or acquires for use in the production or supply of goods and services. They are not meant for resale and are expected to be productive for more than one year. Examples include land, buildings, machinery, furniture, fixtures, vehicles, and computer equipment. These assets appear on the balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization.

Intangible Assets: Valuing the Invisible

Intangible assets lack physical substance but provide long-term value to a company. Examples include patents, trademarks, copyrights, goodwill, and brand recognition. They are non-physical assets that grant certain rights and privileges to a company. Their value comes from the exclusive access or proprietary knowledge they provide over extended periods. Companies acquire or develop intangibles through investments and business combinations. They get amortized over their useful life but can still contribute value after being fully amortized.

Investments and Other Non-Current Assets

Besides fixed assets and intangibles, companies can have long-term investments like bonds and stocks of other entities. These provide income streams over long horizons through interest, dividends, or capital appreciation. Sinking funds, which are cash reserves set aside for debt repayment, also qualify as non-current investments. Additionally, some insurance policies have a cash surrender value that companies can borrow against in the future. Hence they represent potential long-term assets.

Identifying and Classifying Other Non-Current Assets

Some other non-current assets include non-current prepaid expenses, deferred tax assets, restricted cash balances, and long-term deposits. Depending on their use and expected holding period, companies classify these specialized assets as current or non-current. Proper identification and classification are necessary for accurate financial reporting and valuation.

Accounting for Non-Current Assets

This section delves into the accounting processes associated with non-current assets, including their recognition, valuation, and the impact on a company's financial statements.

Capitalization of Non-Current Assets

Non-current assets like property, plant and equipment (PP&E) are capitalized on the balance sheet, meaning their cost is recorded as an asset rather than an expense. To be capitalized, an expenditure on a non-current asset must meet certain criteria:

It must provide economic benefits lasting more than one year. For example, purchasing a building that will be used for many years meets this requirement.
The cost must exceed a company's capitalization threshold. For example, a company may capitalize expenditures over $5,000.

If an expenditure does not meet both criteria, it is expensed on the income statement rather than capitalized.

Depreciation, Amortization, and Depletion

Because non-current assets provide economic benefits over multiple years, their cost is systematically allocated as an expense over their useful life.

Tangible assets like PP&E are depreciated, spreading out the cost as depreciation expense each year. Companies use methods like straight-line or double declining balance to depreciate assets over estimated useful lives.

Intangible assets like patents are amortized in a similar way. The cost is amortized as expense over the life of the patent.

Natural resource assets like oil wells are depleted, allocating their cost as depletion expense based on units extracted each year.

Impairment Testing and Write-Downs

If market conditions change and a non-current asset declines in fair value, it may become impaired. Companies perform impairment testing periodically:

If an asset's recoverable amount drops below its carrying value on the balance sheet, an impairment write-down is recorded.
The asset's value is written down to the recoverable amount, recorded as impairment loss expense on the income statement.

This conservatively reflects the decline in asset value in the financial statements.

Reporting Non-Current Assets in Balance Sheets

In balance sheets, non-current assets are split into common classifications:

Property, Plant & Equipment
Investments
Intangibles like Goodwill, Patents
Other Long-Term Assets

The total cost and accumulated depreciation or amortization is presented for each classification. Notes to the financial statements describe the accounting policies used.

Non-current assets are vital long-term resources that enable companies to operate over many years. Proper accounting for their value and useful life is essential for financial statement accuracy and transparency.

Valuation and Analysis of Non-Current Assets

The assessment of non-current assets is crucial for investors and stakeholders to understand a company's long-term value and potential. This section covers the methods and considerations in evaluating these assets.

Methods of Valuing Fixed and Intangible Assets

There are several main approaches to valuing non-current tangible and intangible assets:

Market Approach: Estimating the value based on what similar assets have sold for recently. This includes comparable sales analysis.
Cost Approach: Estimating the value based on how much it would cost to replace the asset. This is often used for specialized equipment.
Income Approach: Estimating the value based on the income the asset is expected to generate in the future. This includes discounted cash flow analysis.

Each method has pros and cons and is applicable in certain situations. The market approach works well for generic assets with an active market. The cost approach works for specialized assets. The income approach works for income-generating assets.

Analyzing Depreciated and Amortized Asset Values

Depreciation and amortization reduce the book value of assets over their useful life:

Depreciation applies to tangible assets like property, plant, and equipment (PP&E). It spreads out the cost over the life of the asset.
Amortization applies to intangible assets like patents, trademarks, and goodwill. It deducts the cost over the life of the asset.

Analysts must consider the remaining depreciable life and whether the assets are being depreciated/amortized faster or slower than the actual loss in value. This helps determine the fair market value.

The Impact of Non-Current Assets on Company Valuation

The value of non-current, long-term assets significantly impacts overall company valuation:

They make up a major part of the asset base and shareholder equity on the balance sheet.
Stable, income-generating assets signal lower risk and support higher valuations.
Intangibles like strong brand, patents, and goodwill also increase valuation.

As such, analyzing non-current assets using the methods above provides key insights for valuation models and investment decisions.

Non-Current Assets Formula and Metrics

Key formulas and metrics used to assess non-current assets include:

Fixed Asset Turnover: Net Sales / Average Fixed Assets
ROA: Net Income / Average Total Assets
Intangible Assets %: Intangible Assets / Total Assets

These measure how productively assets are being used to generate sales and profits. Higher values signal assets are being used efficiently.

Strategic Management of Non-Current Assets

Non-current assets like property, plant and equipment (PP&E), intangible assets, and other long-term assets are vital for a company's operations and strategy. Effective management of these assets can lead to sustainable growth.

Investing in PP&E for Operational Excellence

Acquiring advanced machinery, upgraded facilities, and other PP&E can improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and capabilities
Prioritizing investments in innovative technologies and automation enables companies to achieve operational excellence
Proper maintenance and upkeep of existing PP&E ensures maximum utility over their useful life

Leveraging Intangible Assets for Competitive Advantage

Patents, trademarks, licenses, and other intangible assets can provide a competitive edge if properly leveraged
Strategic management of these assets can support business growth through differentiated offerings, premium pricing, and new market opportunities

Balancing Asset Acquisition with Asset Maintenance

While acquiring new assets expands capabilities, maintaining existing assets optimizes the overall asset base
Companies need balanced capital allocation between new investments and upkeep of current assets
Prioritization frameworks align asset investments with strategic goals

FF&E and Tangible Personal Property in Asset Strategy

Assets like office equipment, furniture, vehicles, and inventory play a crucial role in daily operations
Keeping these assets updated and tracking their utilization enables data-driven decision making
Optimizing the use of tangible property improves productivity and manages costs

In summary, non-current assets form the foundation of a company's operations and market positioning. Their strategic management and alignment with business goals can drive sustainable competitive advantage.

Conclusion: The Integral Role of Non-Current Assets

Recap of Non-Current Asset Types and Accounting Practices

Non-current assets are long-term assets that are vital to a company's operations and future growth. They include fixed assets like property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), intangible assets like patents and trademarks, and other long-term investments.

Accounting rules dictate that most non-current assets are not immediately expensed, but rather depreciated or amortized over the course of their useful lives. This matches the expense of the asset to the revenue it helps generate over time. Proper accounting and strategic management of non-current assets is crucial.

The Strategic Importance of Non-Current Assets

A company's non-current, fixed assets form the foundation of its business operations and capacity to generate future revenue. As such, the management of these assets is integral to long-term success.

Investing in the right kinds of fixed assets allows a business to operate more efficiently and productively. Maintaining and upgrading these assets ensures this capacity is retained. And leveraging assets like intellectual property creates durable competitive advantages.

Final Thoughts on Non-Current Assets in Business

While less liquid than current assets, non-current assets drive the engine of future growth for any successful company. Their accounting treatment and strategic management are therefore essential responsibilities of financial leadership. Understanding their integral role sets businesses on the path to sustaining the asset base for long-term prosperity.