Zeigler Corporation began operations in 2012. At the beginning of the year, the company purchased plant assets of $300,000, with an estimated useful life of 10 years and no residual value. During the year, the company had net sales of $450,000, salaries expense of $70,000, and other expenses of $25,000, excluding depreciation. In addition, Zeigler purchased inventory as follows:

At the end of the year, a physical inventory disclosed 250 units still on hand. The managers of Zeigler know they have a choice of accounting methods, but they are unsure how those methods will affect net income. They have heard of the FIFO and LIFO inventory methods and the straight-line and double-declining-balance depreciation methods.

REQUIRED

1. Prepare two income statements for Zeigler, one using the FIFO and straight-line methods and the other using the LIFO and double-declining-balance methods. Ignore income taxes.

2. Prepare a schedule accounting for the difference in the two net income figures obtained in 1.

3. What effect does the choice of accounting method have on Zeigler’s inventory turnover? (Round to one decimal place.) What conclusions can you draw? Use the year-end balance to compute the ratio.

4. How does the choice of accounting methods affect Zeigler’s return on assets? Assume the company’s only assets are cash of $25,000, inventory, and plant assets. Use year-end balances to compute the ratios. Is your evaluation of Zeigler’s profitability affected by the choice of accounting methods? Explain your answer.

Transcribed Image Text:

$ 20,000 10,200 41,600 30,900 15,750 Jan. 15 Mar. 20 June 15 Sept. 18 200 units at S100 100 units at $102 400 units at S104 300 units at S103 150 units at $105 1,150 units Dec. 9 Total $118,450