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Financial Results Of The Gap, Inditex, And H & M

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If an investor wants to compare the financial results of The Gap, Inditex, and H&M, what difference does it make that their financial statements are prepared according to different GAAP? Would you expect there to be a big difference between U.S. GAAP as used by The Gap and IFRS as used by H&M and Index?
Generally accepted accounting principles are the standard framework of guidelines for financial accounting used in any given jurisdiction; generally known as accounting standards or standard accounting practice. These include the standards, conventions, and rules that accountants follow in recording, summarizing, and in the preparation of financial statements. (Wikipedia, 2015) In addition, H&M is exclusively listed on Sweden’s stock exchange despite its global existence. The ability to list solely in the country in which a company is dwelling can simplify the financial reporting process by avoiding the need to present finances that adhere to the accounting rules of multiple countries. The Gap, H&M, and Inditex come from different accounting and regulatory environments. (Daniels, Radebaugh, and Sullivan, 2015) The main difference between U.S. GAAP and IFRS is that the U.S. GAAP contributes to a rule based policy unlike the IFRS which is principle based. For example, last in-first out follows the U.S. GAAP guidelines whereas last in-first out is not allowed under the IFRS. (Boundless, 2015) “In addition, one of the hallmarks of GAAP is an emphasis on smooth earnings

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