Is Retained Earning an Asset?

Last Updated :

21 Aug, 2024

Blog Author :

Wallstreetmojo Team

Edited by :

Ashish Kumar Srivastav

Reviewed by :

Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

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Is Retained Earning an Asset?

Retained Earnings are the net income accumulated over time and later used to pay shareholders in the form of dividends or compensation to shareholders in case of selling or buying of the corporation. Thus, retained earnings are not an asset for the company since it belongs to shareholders. An Entity holds it as additional equity shareholder capital.

Net Retained Earnings = Retained Earnings at the beginning of the Period + Net Income/Loss During the Period - Total Dividends.

retained earnings shown on the liability side of the balance sheet are under the head reserves and surplus in the shareholder's equity fund. It is considered an equity account; hence it is usually expected to have a credit balance.

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Purpose of Retained Earnings

Is Retained Earning an Asset

  1. For distribution of the dividend at any time in the future, i.e., in the middle of any financial year;
  2. These earnings are retained for future use to help fund the corporation's expansion.
  3. One of its uses can be compensated to the shareholders in case of winding up of a corporation.
  4. An entity can capitalize on the credit balance of the retained earnings by issuing bonus shares to the shareholders.

Examples

Case #1: In case there is a net profit from profit and loss account for the relevant financial year

XYZ Corporation retained earnings at the beginning of 2019 of $250,000. During the year the company earns a net income of $100,000 after deducting all the expenses. It pays the preference dividend to preference shareholders of $75,000 and equity dividend to the equity shareholders of $100,000. Calculate the retained earnings of the company for the period ending in 2019.

Solution:

Calculation of retained earnings of the company for the period ending in 2019:

Is Retained Earnings an Asset Example 1

Case #2: In case there is net loss from profit and loss, account for the relevant financial year

ABC Corporation retained earnings at the beginning of 2019 of $350,000. During the year the company incurred a net loss of $120,000 after deducting all the expenses. Since there is a net loss from the profit and loss account, dividends to any shareholders will not be distributed. Calculate the retained earnings of the company for the period ending in 2019.

Solution:

Calculation of Retained Earnings of the company for the period ending in 2019:

Is Retained Earnings an Asset Example 1-1

Conclusion

  • Thus retained earnings are said to be part of net profit after deducting the dividend to be paid to the shareholders. It will accumulate over time to utilize them for Future funding consequences, which may arrive in the corporation at any point in a future date.
  • Retained earnings are the entity's net income from various operations held by the company as additional equity shareholder capital. Hence it is considered a shareholders fund and also represents in calculating return on equity invested by the shareholders in the entity.

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