Charge to Earnings

A change on the balance sheet must also flow through the income statement. If a balance sheet asset increases in value, the company realizes a gain on its income statement, and if an asset decreases in value (or a new liability is created), a charge is taken against earnings. The most common charges are writedowns in inventory or plants and equipment, often triggered by a merger or other corporate action.

For instance: Say a company thought its PCs were worth $1,000, and they've been carried on the books at that cost, but -- lo and behold -- they're really worth $100. Then it has to take a charge to earnings so the balance sheet can reflect the true asset value.

TheStreet Glossary

TheStreet Premium Services

Jim Cramer
Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS:
Trade right alongside a Wall Street pro — enjoy access to his Charitable Trust portfolio and be sent trade alerts BEFORE he makes a move. Learn More
OptionsProfits
OptionsProfits:
Get 50+ trade ideas a week from the industry's top options experts. Plus — exclusive commentary on market trends and essential trading tools. Learn More
Real Money
Real Money:
Our team of professional Wall Street Pros — including Jim Cramer, Doug Kass, and Nicholas Vardy — delivers intelligent analysis, timely trade ideas, and colorful commentary. Learn More
Stocks Under $10
Stocks Under $10:
Break into the market with small- and mid-cap stocks... all $10 or less! David Peltier tells you exactly which low-priced stocks he's buying and selling. Learn More
Dow Jones S&P 500 NASDAQ 10-Year Note
12,454.83 1,317.82 2,837.53 17.45
Oil *
107.26
DOWN
74.92
DOWN
2.86
DOWN
1.85
DOWN
0.14
10 Yr
1.74%
SPDR Gold
152.68
-0.60%
-0.22%
-0.07%
-0.80%
Data delayed 20 minutes

Top Stories and Tools

After the Bell

Before the Bell

Booyah! Newsletter

Midday Bell

TheStreet Top 10 Stories

Winners & Losers

We respect your privacy.
Podcasts

Connect with TheStreet