Textbook Problem

It is the end of 2019 and you are an accountant for Stone Company. During 2019, sales of the company’s products slumped and the company’s earnings are expected to be much less than those of 2018. The president comes to you with an idea. He says, “Our company’s property, plant, and equipment cost $300,000, and that is the amount we usually report on our balance sheet. However, I just had these assets appraised by an independent appraiser, and she says they are worth $400,000. I think that the company should report the property, plant, and equipment at this amount on its December 31, 2019, balance sheet and should report the $100,000 increase in value as a gain on the 2019 income statement. If we use this approach, it will show how much our company is really worth and increase our earnings. This will make our shareholders happy. What do you think?”

Required:

Prepare a written response to the president.