Understanding Non-GAAP Earnings: A Comprehensive Guide

Non-GAAP earnings are earnings measures that are not prepared using GAAP’s (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and are not required for external reporting or other public disclosures. However, non-GAAP earnings are sometimes reported in company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)The US Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, is an independent agency of the US federal government that is responsible for implementing federal securities laws and proposing securities rules. It is also in charge of maintaining the securities industry and stock and options exchanges when management feels it will be useful for stakeholders, and they are often used internally to make managerial decisions or to evaluate management.

GAAP Earnings vs. Non-GAAP Earnings

To understand non-GAAP earnings, it is important to understand GAAP earnings and how to calculate GAAP earnings. GAAP is a set of standard accounting rules that companies must use to prepare their financial statements.  Auditors ensure GAAP is properly applied so that they can provide assurance on the financial statements, which public companies need to file under the Securities and Exchange Commission..

GAAP aims to keep accounting practices consistent for all companies, and within different reporting periods of a company. It ensures market participants that they will be able to analyze the companies’ financial statements on a level playing field and that companies prepared their earnings use the same set of accounting rules.

Why are Non-GAAP Earnings Reported?

At the basic level, non-GAAP earnings are reported because management may find it to be a more suitable way to depict the company’s earnings. An example would be if a company incurred a large one-time expense, they would need to report that expense under GAAP rules.

However, they may report a pro-formaPro FormaPro forma is Latin for “as a matter of” or “for the sake of form.” It is used primarily in reference to the presentation of information in a formal way, statement or adjusted earnings statement, which would mark the large expense as a one-time expense and would not include it in normal operating income. Thus, the discrepancies between non-GAAP and GAAP earnings might be large.

Another reason that companies use non-GAAP earnings is to show investors the management’s view of its core operations.

Significance of Non-GAAP Earnings

The use of non-GAAP earnings in SEC filings is at its highest. In 1996, 59% of S&P 500 companies used at least one non-GAAP earnings measure, whereas, in 2018, 97% of S&P 500 companies used at least one non-GAAP earnings measure in company filings. The use of non-GAAP earnings, in part, increased because of the increase in large non-recurring items. For example, from 1996 to 2018, the number of mergers and acquisitions worldwide increased by 116%.

In addition, investors pay close attention to non-GAAP earnings, as it provides insight into how management believes its core operations are performing. However, non-GAAP earnings may be misleading when incorrectly used. A company may include significant non-recurring costs in every filing, which can suggest the company is attempting to inflate its non-GAAP earnings.

Also, non-GAAP earnings aren’t suitable for companies that must frequently upgrade costly equipment, as it may be labeled as a non-operating expense. Consequently, investors must be critical when analyzing non-GAAP earnings.

Common Non-GAAP Earnings Measures

The following are non-GAAP earnings measures that are frequently used:

EBITDA

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) is one of the most popular non-GAAP earning measures. EBITDA is used as a earnings measure that the company receives from operations. It is a proxy for a company’s profitability.

For companies with significant PP&EPP&E (Property, Plant and Equipment)PP&E (Property, Plant, and Equipment) is one of the core non-current assets found on the balance sheet. PP&E is impacted by Capex,, their EBITDA figure can be quite different from their GAAP net income because of the depreciation of PPE. EBITDA also evaluates a company independent of its financing decisions and taxation.

The EBITDA metric is calculated by adding interest expense, taxes, depreciation, and amortization to the company’s net earnings, as seen below:

EBITDA = Net Income + Interest Expense + Taxes + Depreciation + Amortization

Free Cash Flow (FCF)

Free cash flow (FCF) is a commonly used non-GAAP earnings measure that shows cash flows a company receives that are available for distribution among all securities holders of the company. FCF measures profitability, excluding non-cash expenses from the income statement, but includes changes in net working capital and capital expenditures.

FCF can be calculated by using many methods, including the one below:

Free Cash Flow = Cash Flow from Operations + Interest – Interest Tax Shield – Capital Expenditures

Pro-Forma Earnings

Pro-forma earnings exclude certain costs or expenses that the company believes don’t accurately represent its profitability. Proforma earnings exclude large expenses that the company does not believe to be recurring. i.e., purchasing a new building. Also, pro-forma earnings are typically used to show investors what management thinks their true operating income is.

Criticisms

Non-GAAP earnings often face criticism because they try to show the companies results in the best possible light. Critics believe that non-GAAP earnings sometimes exclude recurring costs by labeling them as non-reoccurring or one-time expenses.

In addition, non-GAAP earnings are not standardized, making it difficult to compare with the earnings of competing companies. Thus, investors should look at non-GAAP earnings with a critical eye.

More Resources

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• EBITDAEBITDAEBITDA or Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortization is a company's profits before any of these net deductions are made. EBITDA focuses on the operating decisions of a business because it looks at the business’ profitability from core operations before the impact of capital structure. Formula, examples
• IFRS vs. US GAAPIFRS vs. US GAAPThe IFRS vs US GAAP refers to two accounting standards and principles adhered to by countries in the world in relation to financial reporting
• Internal vs. External ReportingInternal vs External Financial ReportingInternal vs external financial reporting comes with several differences that every interested party must be aware of. Internal financial
• Earnings SeasonEarnings SeasonEarnings season is the time during which publicly-traded companies announce their financial results in the market. The time occurs at the end of every quarter, i.e., four times in a year for U.S. companies.  Companies in other regions have different reporting periods, such as Europe, where companies report semi-annually.