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Definition of Lower of Cost or MarketLower of Cost or Market is also known as LCM, followed by USGAAP to value the Inventory of a company. USGAAP is an accounting standard. Every company needs to reflect the value of the inventory in their books. If the value of the inventory that the firm plans to sell is different in books and markets, then the LCM methods directly reflect the lower value. ExplanationAt the purchase of an inventory, the cost that is reflected in the book is the same as the price prevailing in the market. If the value of the inventory in the market decreases with the passage of time, then stakeholders would like to have the true picture of the financial statements. For this reason, the lower value between cost and market is reflected. Example of Lower of Cost or MarketCompany XYZ has purchased inventory at $400. The market price of the inventory is $300. What should be the value of inventory in the financial statement? Solution: In the financial statement, as per the lower of cost or market method, the value of the inventory will be recorded at $300. Comparing the market price and purchase price, the market price is less, so the value of the inventory will have to be reduced by $100 and recorded at $300 instead of $400. Factors to Applying Lower of Cost or Market
Recording of Lower of Cost or MarketIt may sound simple that the lower of the cost of the market will have to be recorded. The market value, which is also known as the replacement cost, should follow certain parameters. The parameters have set upper bound and lower bound for the replacement cost:
Net Realizable value refers to the value of the good that the company will get after sell. So there is always a selling cost involved in any sell. Net Realizable Value = Selling Price – Selling Cost Example:
Solution: Here in this example, as the inventory’s replacement cost is more than the Net Realizable Value, Net Realizable Value will be used. The Inventory in the book is currently reflecting at $500; actually, it should be $350, which is market value. So $150 will have to be written down. The recording will be: Write down of Inventory … Dr $150 To Inventory …. Cr $150 As Inventory carries a debit balance, so crediting it will reduce the value of the Inventory account. Challenges of Lower of Cost or Market Method
Application of Lower of Cost or MarketThe Lower of Cost or Market rule can be applied in industries that face the difficulty of losing the inventory value quickly. Mainly mobile phones lose their value within months of their launch. So this method will be really helpful in the mobile phone industry, and it will help stakeholders to estimate the true picture of inventory that the company is carrying. If there is a market crisis that is not predicted to reverse in the short term, the rule will also help to estimate the correct value of the inventory. Uses of Lower of Cost or MarketCompanies use the Lower of Cost or Market rule-following USGAAP. This rule is applicable in many industries and helps to portray the true picture of the company in front of stakeholders. AdvantagesSome of the advantages are given below:
DisadvantagesSome of the disadvantages are given below:
ConclusionThe lower of Cost or Market method is useful for proper recording of inventory. The method is followed by USGAAP and helps to portray a true picture to the stakeholders. Proper analysis regarding the correct market price should be done before writing down the value of inventory. Recommended ArticlesThis is a guide to Lower of Cost or Market. Here we also discuss the definition and factors to applying lower of cost or market along with an example. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
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} .wp-block-toolset-blocks-grid-column.tb-grid-column[data-toolset-blocks-grid-column="3034fbe886c11054e95b46b09d3e4112"] { display: flex; } .tb-grid,.tb-grid>.block-editor-inner-blocks>.block-editor-block-list__layout{display:grid;grid-row-gap:25px;grid-column-gap:25px}.tb-grid-item{background:#d38a03;padding:30px}.tb-grid-column{flex-wrap:wrap}.tb-grid-column>*{width:100%}.tb-grid-column.tb-grid-align-top{width:100%;display:flex;align-content:flex-start}.tb-grid-column.tb-grid-align-center{width:100%;display:flex;align-content:center}.tb-grid-column.tb-grid-align-bottom{width:100%;display:flex;align-content:flex-end} }  Lower of cost or market is a method of inventory pricing by which the inventory is priced at cost or market, whichever is lower. It is an application of conservatism in accounting. ExplanationUnder generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the presumption is that inventories will be recorded at cost, If however, the utility of the goods in the inventory is not as great as their cost is, the goods must be written down to the lower of cost or market. Although this is a violation of the historical cost principle, accountants feel that losses should be recorded as soon as they become evident. thus, in this case, the concept of conservatism takes precedence over historical cost convention. Approximately 90% of the 600 companies surveyed by the AICPA in 2019 reported their inventory at the lower of cost or market. The Theory of Lower of Cost or Market (LCM)In applying the lower of cost or market rule, cost is determined by one of the cost flow methods; market, in this case, generally means replacement cost, or the cost to purchase a similar inventory item. The use of lower of cost or market is based on the theory that if an item’s replacement cost decreases in the current period, its sales price will ultimately decrease. Because accountants feel that all losses should be recognized when they occur, this loss is recognized in the period that it occurs – that is, when the price declines – not in a later period – when the item is eventually sold. ExampleTo illustrate the theory behind the LCM rule, assume the following facts:
The Application of Lower of Cost or MarketThe application of lower of cost or market is a two-step process. In the first step, market, defined as the item’s replacement cost, is determined. This can usually be done by examining vendors’ invoices at the end of the year. In the second step, market or replacement cost is compared with cost, and if necessary, the inventory is reduced to the lower of cost or market (LCM). Under generally accepted accounting principles, the comparison can be made on (1) an item-by-item basis, (2) a group-of-items basis, or (3) the inventory as a whole. The LCM comparison on all three bases is shown in the below example. When the item-by-item basis is used, individual comparison for all items must be made. This results in an inventory value of $24,000. Under the group basis, the inventory is divided into a luxury group and a standard group, and the comparison is then made for each group total. For example, in the luxury group the cost of $22,500 is compared with the market of $22,000, and so the value of the group is determined to be $22,000. The same comparison is then made for the standard group, and its value is $2,750. This results in a total inventory value of $24,750. On a total-inventory basis, the cost and the market of the entire inventory are compared, resulting in an inventory value of $24,800. Comparing all three methods, we see that the item-by-item method is the most conservative; that is, it results in the lowest inventory value. This is because increases in the value of one item cannot offset decreases in other items, as is the case under the group and total inventory methods.Lower of Cost and Market and Income TaxesThe Internal Revenue Code contains specific regulations pertaining to the use of lower of cost or market for federal tax purposes. Two of these provisions differentiate the use of lower of cost or market for tax purposes from financial reporting purposes. First, for tax purposes, only FIFO (no LIFO) can be used in conjunction with lower of cost or market. For generally accepted accounting (GAAP) purposes, however, LIFO combined with lower of cost or market is a valid method. Second, for tax purposes, lower of cost or market can be applied only on an item-by-item basis. The group or total inventory method cannot be used.
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