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Multiple Choice
In a common-size income statement, each item is expressed as a percentage of total:
A
liabilities
B
assets
C
equity
D
sales (revenue)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of a common-size income statement: It is a financial statement where each line item is expressed as a percentage of a base figure, typically to facilitate comparison across companies or periods.
Identify the base figure for a common-size income statement: In this case, the base figure is total sales (revenue), as the income statement primarily focuses on the company's performance and profitability.
Recognize why sales (revenue) is used as the base: Sales represent the total income generated by the company from its operations, and all other items (e.g., cost of goods sold, operating expenses, net income) are expressed as a percentage of this figure to show their relative size and impact.
Clarify the incorrect options: Total liabilities, assets, and equity are balance sheet items and are not used as the base for a common-size income statement. These items are relevant for a common-size balance sheet instead.
Apply the concept: To create a common-size income statement, divide each line item (e.g., cost of goods sold, operating expenses) by total sales (revenue) and multiply by 100 to express it as a percentage.