Company balance sheet analysis using GAAP and economic classification framework

Bhp

The company I am studying is BHP Billiton, the Australian mining company whose ADRs trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHP. The following is an analysis of how its GAAP balance sheet would correspond to an economic balance sheet.

Cash, STI, Cash equivalents

Core Operations

Receivables

Core Operations

Inventories

Core Operations

Other Current Assets

Non-operating net assets

Net property, plant and equipment

Core Operations

Goodwill and other intangible

Non-operating net assets

Investments and advances

Non-operating net assets

Accounts receivable, non-current

Core operations

Deferred non-current accounts

Non-operating net assets

Other non-current accounts

Non-operating net assets

Payables

Debt claims

Long-term debt and capital leases

Debt claims

Deferred liabilities, non-current

Debt claims

Minority interest

Other capital claims

Provisions, long-term

Debt claims

Provisions, current

Debt claims

Current debt

Debt claims

Deferred liabilities, current

Debt claims

Current portion of LTD

Debt claims

Other current liabilities

Debt claims

Capital stock

Equity claims

Retained earnings

Equity claims

Additional paid-in capital

Equity claims

Treasury stock

Equity claims

It is entirely possible that there is information in the company's annual report that is not listed in the GAAP statements that might contribute to a better understanding of the economic accounts. The statements are published in Australian GAAP, not U.S. GAAP. To determine the differences would definitely require a keen understanding of Australian accounting principles and the differences between those and U.S. GAAP. Some potential issues arise with respect to the valuation of undeveloped holdings. In the mining business, there are challenges with respect to valuing properties, because the price paid and the economic output can be quite different from one another. Further, the economic output is usually not known until development has begun, yet mining companies often own properties that are not presently in development. Thus, valuing assets at different stages of development is a challenge.

Furthermore, BHP Billiton's income statement shows that it undertakes hedging positions in key commodities. These positions are usually recorded for accounting purposes on a mark-to-market basis, but until they are realized do not hit the income statement. Thus, there needs to be some reconciliation process between the GAAP recording of hedge positions and the economic accounting position with regards to such positions. Hedge positions are likely a Core Operation, but could be considered a Debt claim if they are underwater, or depending on the type of position taken.