Available-for-Sale (AFS) Securities: Videos & Practice Problems

Available for Sale (AFS) securities are investments intended for sale but not actively traded. Changes in fair value are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI), distinguishing them from trading securities. When dividends are received, they are recorded as revenue in the income statement. Unrealized gains or losses affect equity but do not impact retained earnings. Upon sale, realized gains or losses are recognized in the income statement, and any related OCI balances must be adjusted accordingly. Understanding these concepts is crucial for accurate financial reporting and compliance with accounting standards.

Purchasing Available-for-Sale Securities

When examining Available for Sale (AFS) securities, it's essential to recognize their similarities to trading securities, with the primary distinction being the treatment of unrealized gains and losses. For AFS securities, changes in fair value are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) rather than directly impacting net income. This means that while AFS securities can generate income through dividends and experience changes in fair value, the unrealized gains or losses are not reflected in the income statement until the securities are sold.

AFS securities can be classified as either current or long-term assets, depending on the intent to sell within a year or hold for a longer period. The classification will be specified in the problem statement. The initial measurement of these securities is at cost, which is the amount paid for the investment. Subsequently, they are measured at fair value, similar to trading securities, but with the crucial difference that unrealized gains or losses are recorded in OCI.

For example, consider a transaction where ABC Company purchases 500 shares of XYZ Company common stock for a total of $40,000, indicating the intent to classify these shares as available for sale. This can be presented in two ways: either as a total cost of $40,000 or as a per-share price of $80 ($40,000 divided by 500 shares). Regardless of how the information is presented, the total amount is what matters for the journal entry.

The journal entry for this transaction would involve debiting the investment in AFS securities for $40,000, reflecting the increase in assets, and crediting cash for the same amount, indicating the outflow of cash. This entry maintains the overall asset balance, as the increase in the investment is offset by the decrease in cash.

In summary, understanding the treatment of AFS securities, including their classification, measurement, and the impact of unrealized gains and losses on financial statements, is crucial for accurate financial reporting. The key takeaway is that while AFS securities share characteristics with trading securities, their unique treatment in OCI is a fundamental aspect of their accounting.

Dividend Revenue for Available-for-Sale Securities

Available-for-sale securities can generate dividend revenue, similar to trading securities. For instance, on December 10th of Year 1, XYZ Company declared and paid a dividend of $1 per share. If an investor owns 500 shares, the total dividend received would be calculated as follows:

Dividend Revenue = Number of Shares × Dividend per Share = 500 shares × $1/share = $500.

This dividend is received in cash, leading to a journal entry where cash is debited for $500, reflecting the increase in cash assets. The corresponding credit is recorded as dividend revenue, which is reported on the income statement. It is important to note that this revenue is classified as non-operating income, as it does not stem from the core business operations. Instead, it appears at the bottom of the income statement, separate from operating revenues.

Additionally, only unrealized gains or losses from changes in the fair value of available-for-sale securities are included in other comprehensive income, which is distinct from regular income. The comprehensive income statement combines net income with these unrealized gains and losses, providing a broader view of financial performance.

In summary, receiving $500 in cash from dividends increases both assets and revenue, which in turn boosts equity through an increase in net income. This process mirrors the treatment of dividend revenue from trading securities, reinforcing the understanding of how different types of securities impact financial statements.

Unrealized Gains and Losses for Available-for-Sale Securities (1)

Unrealized gains and losses are crucial concepts in accounting, particularly when dealing with available-for-sale securities. These gains or losses arise from changes in the fair value of investments that have not yet been sold. Unlike trading securities, where gains and losses are reflected directly in net income, unrealized gains and losses for available-for-sale securities are recorded in other comprehensive income (OCI). This distinction is important as it affects how these figures impact the overall financial statements.

When the market price of an investment increases, it results in an unrealized gain, while a decrease in market price leads to an unrealized loss. For instance, if XYZ Company purchased 500 shares at $80 per share for a total of $40,000, and the market value drops to $65 per share, the new market value would be $32,500. This represents a decrease of $7,500, which is recorded as an unrealized loss.

The journal entry to reflect this unrealized loss involves debiting the unrealized loss account and crediting the investment in available-for-sale securities. Specifically, the entry would be:

Debit: Unrealized Loss $7,500

Credit: Investment in Available-for-Sale Securities $7,500

It is essential to note that this unrealized loss is recorded in OCI, which is a separate component of equity and does not affect retained earnings. This separation allows for a clearer understanding of the company's financial position, as unrealized losses are tracked distinctly from realized gains and losses.

In summary, unrealized losses for available-for-sale securities are recorded in OCI, impacting equity but not net income. This understanding is vital for accurately preparing financial statements and comprehending the implications of investment valuations on a company's overall financial health.

Unrealized Gains and Losses for Available-for-Sale Securities (2)

When managing investments in available-for-sale (AFS) securities, it is essential to update the fair value based on market price changes. This process involves maintaining a T-account for the investment to track its balance on the balance sheet, alongside recording unrealized gains or losses in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI).

Initially, an investment was recorded at $40,000. If the market value decreases, as seen with a drop of $7,500, the new value of the investment becomes $32,500, reflecting this loss in OCI for Year 1. This loss is crucial as it impacts the overall equity reported in financial statements.

In Year 2, if the market value of the investment rises to $90 per share, and assuming there are 500 shares, the fair value of the investment increases to $45,000. This represents a gain of $12,500 from the previous valuation of $32,500. To adjust the investment account, a journal entry is made: the investment in AFS is debited by $12,500, reflecting the increase in value, while the corresponding credit is recorded as an unrealized gain in OCI, also amounting to $12,500. This adjustment increases equity by the same amount.

It is important to note that when the investment is eventually sold, the accumulated balance in OCI must be addressed. In this scenario, the OCI balance would reflect a net of $5,000, calculated from the previous unrealized loss of $7,500 and the new unrealized gain of $12,500. This balance must be cleared upon the sale of the investment, as it represents the cumulative unrealized gains and losses over time.

Understanding these adjustments is vital for accurately reporting the financial position and performance of investments in AFS securities, ensuring that all changes in fair value are properly reflected in the financial statements.

Realized Gains and Losses for Available-for-Sale Securities

When a company sells an available-for-sale security, it must recognize any realized gains or losses on its income statement. A realized gain occurs when the selling price exceeds the last revaluation price, while a realized loss occurs when the selling price is lower than the last revaluation price.

For example, consider ABC Company, which sold its investment in XYZ stock on February 12, Year 3, at a market value of $70 per share. The last revaluation had valued the stock at $90 per share. With 500 shares, the total investment was calculated as:

Investment = 500 \text{ shares} \times 90 \text{ USD/share} = 45,000 \text{ USD}

Upon selling the shares, the cash received was:

Cash = 500 \text{ shares} \times 70 \text{ USD/share} = 35,000 \text{ USD}

This results in a realized loss of:

Realized Loss = Investment - Cash = 45,000 \text{ USD} - 35,000 \text{ USD} = 10,000 \text{ USD}

In this scenario, the company must also address the balance in other comprehensive income (OCI) related to the investment. If there was a credit balance of $5,000 in OCI from unrealized gains, this must be eliminated since the investment is being sold. The journal entry would include:

• Debit to Cash for $35,000
• Debit to Other Comprehensive Income for $5,000
• Credit to Investment for $45,000
• Debit to Loss on Sale of Securities for $5,000

This entry reflects the cash received, the removal of the investment, the loss recognized on the sale, and the adjustment of OCI. The overall effect on the company's financials shows a net decrease in assets of $10,000, with the loss impacting the income statement and the OCI being adjusted accordingly.

Understanding these transactions is crucial for accurately reporting the financial position and performance of a company, particularly in relation to available-for-sale securities.

Reset Company held investments in available-for-sale securities with a fair value of $180,000 as of December 31, 2017. Reset had originally purchased the investments at a price of $152,000 on January 1, 2017. What is the appropriate amount for Reset to report for these investments on its December 31, 2017 balance sheet?

• A. $180,000
• B. $152,000
• C. $28,000 gain
• D. Cannot be determined

Answer: (A)

Chitty Company often has excess cash on hand to invest. Suppose that Chitty purchases 640 shares of Bang Company common stock at a price of $35 per share. Chitty classifies the investment as available-for-sale securities. This purchase occurred on December 9, 2018. As of December 31, the market price of Chitty stock had increased to $41 per share. Chitty's journal entry on December 31, 2018 related to the investment in Bang Company stock would include:

• A. A debit to Unrealized Gain on the Income Statement for $3,840
• B. A debit to Investments on the Balance Sheet for $3,840
• C. A credit to Unrealized Gain in Other Comprehensive Income for $3,840
• D. A debit to Cash for $3,840
• E. Two of the answers are correct

Answer: (E)

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What are Available-for-Sale (AFS) securities?

Available-for-Sale (AFS) securities are investments that a company intends to sell but does not actively trade. These can include stocks, bonds, or other financial instruments. The key feature of AFS securities is that changes in their fair value are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) rather than the income statement. This means that unrealized gains or losses do not affect the company's net income but do impact equity. When these securities are sold, any realized gains or losses are then recognized in the income statement.

How are unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities recorded?

Unrealized gains and losses on Available-for-Sale (AFS) securities are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI). This is different from trading securities, where unrealized gains and losses are recorded in the income statement. The journal entry for an unrealized gain would involve debiting the investment account and crediting an unrealized gain in OCI. Conversely, for an unrealized loss, you would credit the investment account and debit an unrealized loss in OCI. These entries affect equity but do not impact retained earnings.

How are dividends from AFS securities recorded?

Dividends received from Available-for-Sale (AFS) securities are recorded as dividend revenue in the income statement. The journal entry involves debiting cash and crediting dividend revenue. This revenue is considered non-operating income, meaning it is not part of the core business activities. It appears in the lower section of the income statement, separate from operating revenues. Unlike unrealized gains or losses, dividend revenue does not go to Other Comprehensive Income (OCI).

What happens to OCI balances when AFS securities are sold?

When Available-for-Sale (AFS) securities are sold, any related balances in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) must be adjusted. If there were unrealized gains or losses recorded in OCI, these amounts need to be removed. The journal entry involves debiting or crediting OCI to eliminate the balance and recognizing the realized gain or loss in the income statement. This ensures that the financial statements accurately reflect the realized financial impact of the sale.

How do AFS securities differ from trading securities?

The primary difference between Available-for-Sale (AFS) securities and trading securities lies in how unrealized gains and losses are recorded. For AFS securities, unrealized gains and losses are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income (OCI), affecting equity but not net income. In contrast, for trading securities, unrealized gains and losses are recorded directly in the income statement, impacting net income. Additionally, AFS securities are intended for sale but not actively traded, whereas trading securities are bought and sold frequently.