Case 5 / 183 Entry

3-Statement Change: Depreciation Increases by $100

Accounting & Financial Statements

The prompt

“Walk me through what happens across the income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet if Depreciation & Amortization increases by $100 for the year, with everything else held constant.”

📋 What you're given

Walk me through what happens across the income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet if Depreciation & Amortization increases by $100 for the year, with everything else held constant.

1. Task Overview

Task: Starting from Solstice Components Inc.'s baseline figures below, compute the new EBIT, new Net Income, new Cash Flow from Operations, and new PP&E, net after a $100 increase in D&A — and confirm the balance sheet still balances.

Step 1: Given Data for Solstice Components Inc.

Baseline figures before the D&A increase, plus the scenario change:

Line ItemAmount
Baseline EBIT$500
Interest Expense$50
Tax Rate25% (0.25)
Baseline Net Income$337.5
Baseline D&A (included in EBIT)$200
Increase in Accounts Receivable$60
Increase in Inventory$40
Increase in Accounts Payable$30
Baseline CFO$467.5
Baseline PP&E, net$1,500
Increase in D&A (scenario)$100

Step 2: Calculating the New EBIT (Income Statement)

The extra D&A flows through operating expenses, reducing EBIT dollar-for-dollar.

Show New EBIT Formula

New EBIT = Baseline EBIT - Increase in D&A

Using this formula, compute the new EBIT.

Step 3: Calculating the New Net Income (Income Statement)

From the new EBIT, subtract Interest Expense (unchanged) and apply the tax rate.

Show New Net Income Formula

New Net Income = (New EBIT - Interest Expense) × (1 - Tax Rate)

Using this formula, compute the new Net Income.

Step 4: Calculating the New CFO (Cash Flow Statement)

D&A is a non-cash add-back, so the higher D&A partially offsets the lower Net Income — working capital changes are unaffected by this scenario.

Show New CFO Formula

New CFO = New Net Income + New D&A - (Increase in AR + Increase in Inventory - Increase in AP)

Using this formula, compute the new CFO.

Step 5: Calculating the New PP&E, net (Balance Sheet)

The extra depreciation also reduces the net book value of PP&E on the balance sheet.

Show New PP&E, net Formula

New PP&E, net = Baseline PP&E, net - Increase in D&A

Using this formula, compute the new PP&E, net.

Step 6: Verifying the Balance Sheet Still Balances

Show Balance Check Formula

Δ Assets = Δ Cash + Δ PP&E; Δ Liabilities + Equity = Δ Retained Earnings (= Δ Net Income)

Using these formulas, confirm that Δ Assets = Δ Liabilities + Δ Equity — i.e., that the balance sheet still balances after all three statements update.

💡 Model answer

Try answering out loud first — then reveal the model answer and compare.

⚠️ Common mistakes

  • Assuming Net Income and Cash Flow from Operations must move in the same direction — missing that higher D&A lowers Net Income but raises CFO
  • Forgetting to quantify the D&A tax shield (Increase in D&A × Tax Rate) that explains the gap between the change in Net Income and the change in CFO
  • Updating the income statement but forgetting to flow the change through to the balance sheet (PP&E and Retained Earnings)
  • Confusing Depreciation with a cash outflow — it is a non-cash expense added back on the cash flow statement
  • Assuming the balance sheet still balances without actually re-checking that Δ Assets = Δ Liabilities + Δ Equity

🔁 Follow-up questions

➡️ Related cases

Previous Case 4: Connect the Three Statements Next Case 6: 3-Statement Change: Revenue Increases by $100

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