BYP9-5 Pinson Company and Estes Company are two proprietorships that are similar in many

respects. One difference is that Pinson Company uses the straight-line method and Estes Company

uses the declining-balance method at double the straight-line rate. On January 2, 2013, both companies

acquired the depreciable assets shown below.

Asset Cost Salvage Value Useful Life

Buildings $360,000 $20,000 40 years

Equipment 130,000 10,000 10 years

Including the appropriate depreciation charges, annual net income for the companies in the years

2013, 2014, and 2015 and total income for the 3 years were as follows.

2013 2014 2015 Total

Pinson Company $84,000 $88,400 $90,000 $262,400

Estes Company 68,000 76,000 85,000 229,000

At December 31, 2015, the balance sheets of the two companies are similar except that Estes

Company has more cash than Pinson Company.

Lynda Peace is interested in buying one of the companies. She comes to you for advice.

Instructions

With the class divided into groups, answer the following.

(a) Determine the annual and total depreciation recorded by each company during the 3 years.

(b) Assuming that Estes Company also uses the straight-line method of depreciation instead of the

declining-balance method as in (a), prepare comparative income data for the 3 years.

(c) Which company should Lynda Peace buy? Why?