I was given only this document for an assignment: What is the Fiscal Year End Date?Amazon: December 31st, 2019Walmart: January 31st, 2020Financial Statements data:Amazon:Net Sales: $280,522,000,000Basic net income per common share: $23.46Total current assets: $96,334,000,000Retained earnings: $31,220,000,000Net cash provided by operating activities: $38,514,000,000Inventory LIFOWalmart:Net Sales: $519,926,000,000Basic net income per common share: $5.22Total current assets: $61,806,000,000Retained earnings: $83,943,000,000Net cash provided by operating activities: $25,255,000,000Inventory: FIFO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:What are 3 differences between accounting policies from each company and why do you think they are different?   I'm not sure exactly what the 3 differences are.  I believe (1) is the fiscal year versus the calendar year ending maybe due to Walmart having more seasonal sales like Christmas, and (2) is the FIFO vs LIFO method - but I'm not  sure why they would choose the different styles, and I have no idea what the third difference is.  could you please show me all three differences and why?

Financial Accounting
15th Edition
ISBN:9781337272124
Author:Carl Warren, James M. Reeve, Jonathan Duchac
Publisher:Carl Warren, James M. Reeve, Jonathan Duchac
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I was given only this document for an assignment:

What is the Fiscal Year End Date?
Amazon: December 31st, 2019
Walmart: January 31st, 2020
Financial Statements data:
Amazon:
Net Sales: $280,522,000,000
Basic net income per common share: $23.46
Total current assets: $96,334,000,000
Retained earnings: $31,220,000,000
Net cash provided by operating activities: $38,514,000,000
Inventory LIFO
Walmart:
Net Sales: $519,926,000,000
Basic net income per common share: $5.22
Total current assets: $61,806,000,000
Retained earnings: $83,943,000,000
Net cash provided by operating activities: $25,255,000,000
Inventory: FIFO

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
What are 3 differences between accounting policies from each company and why do you think they are different?

 

I'm not sure exactly what the 3 differences are.  I believe (1) is the fiscal year versus the calendar year ending maybe due to Walmart having more seasonal sales like Christmas, and (2) is the FIFO vs LIFO method - but I'm not  sure why they would choose the different styles, and I have no idea what the third difference is.  could you please show me all three differences and why?

 

Expert Solution
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The accounting policies of various companies do differ as per their environment and internal control policies.

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