Aetna (AET) Intangible Assets : $11,634 Mil (As of Sep. 2018)

Aetna Intangible Assets Chart

Aetna Annual Data
	Trend	Dec08	Dec09	Dec10	Dec11	Dec12	Dec13	Dec14	Dec15	Dec16	Dec17
Intangible Assets		Get a 7-Day Free Trial					12,321.60	12,561.50	12,325.00	12,079.00	11,751.00

Aetna Quarterly Data
	Dec13	Mar14	Jun14	Sep14	Dec14	Mar15	Jun15	Sep15	Dec15	Mar16	Jun16	Sep16	Dec16	Mar17	Jun17	Sep17	Dec17	Mar18	Jun18	Sep18
Intangible Assets	Get a 7-Day Free Trial															11,956.00	11,751.00	11,728.00	11,681.00	11,634.00

Aetna Intangible Assets Calculation

Intangible assets are defined as identifiable non-monetary assets that cannot be seen, touched or physically measured. Examples of intangible assets include trade secrets, copyrights, patents, trademarks. If a company acquires assets at the prices above the book value, it may carry goodwill on its balance sheet. Goodwill reflects the difference between the price the company paid and the book value of the assets.

Aetna  (NYSE:AET) Intangible Assets Explanation

If a company (company A) received a patent through their own work, though it has value, it does not show up on its balance sheet as an intangible asset. However, if company A sells this patent to company B, it will show up on company B's balance sheet as an intangible asset.

The same applies to brand names, trade secrets etc. For instance, Coca-Cola's brand is extremely valuable, but the brand does not appear on its balance sheet, because the brand was never acquired.

Some intangibles are amortized. Amortization is the depreciation of intangible assets.

Many intangibles are not amortized. They may still be written down when the company decides the asset is impaired.

Whenever you see an increase in goodwill over a number of years, you can assume it's because the company is out buying other businesses above book value. GOOD if buying businesses with durable competitive advantage.

If goodwill stays the same, the company when acquiring other companies is either paying less than book value or not acquiring. Businesses with moats never sell for less than book value.

Intangibles acquired are on balance sheet at fair value.

Internally developed brand names (Coke, Wrigleys, Band-Aid) however are not reflected on the balance sheet.

One of the reasons competitive advantage power can remain hidden for so long.

Be Aware

Companies may change the way intangible assets are amortized, and this will affect their reported earnings.

Aetna Intangible Assets Related Terms

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Aetna (AET) Business Description