Intangible assets are defined as identifiable non-monetary assets that cannot be seen, touched or physically measured. Alcatel-Lucent's intangible assets for the quarter that ended in Jun. 2016 was $4,545 Mil.
Alcatel-Lucent Intangible Assets Historical Data
The historical data trend for Alcatel-Lucent's Intangible Assets can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
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.
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.
Alcatel-Lucent Intangible Assets Related Terms
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Alcatel-Lucent (Alcatel-Lucent) Business Description
Alcatel-Lucent SA was incorporated on June 18, 1898. The Company is engaged in designing, manufacturing, operations and sales of equipment, material and software related to domestic, industrial, civil, military or other applications concerning electricity, telecommunications, computers, electronics, aerospace industry, nuclear energy, metallurgy, and, in general, of all the means of production or transmission of energy or communication. The Company's core Networking segment includes three business divisions: IP Routing, IP Transport and IP Platforms. The IP ROUTING focus is on the intelligent IP router market and emerging Software Defined Networking (SDN) markets and related professional services. In IP TRANSPORT segment company designs, manufactures and markets optical networking equipment to transport information over fiber optic connections over long distances on land or under sea, as well as for short distances in metropolitan and regional areas. The portfolio also includes related professional services and microwave wireless transmission equipment. In IP PLATFORMS, the Company offers software and services to service providers that allow them to meet the market evolution needs of mobile and fixed networks. The Company's access segment includes four business divisions: WIRELESS are committed to a wireless access portfolio that is suited to the operators that are moving to 4G/LTE quickly and decisively. FIXED ACCESS IP-based fixed access products and related professional services provides support for both DSL and fiber, allowing service providers to extend Ultra-Broadband access to the customer's premise regardless of technology and to seamlessly combine copper and fiber access technologies and FTTx deployment models to achieve the fastest return-on-investment and time-to-market. In LICENSING the Intellectual Property Business Group works to monetize the patent portfolio through licensing and patent sales while also maintaining and prosecuting patents. The managed services portfolio includes Build-Operate-Manage-Transfer (BOMT) Solutions, Operations Transformation Solutions, and Network Operations Services. These services can be delivered across a wide array of network technologies including Network Access (FTTx), Next generation wireless (LTE, Small Cells, 4G), and IP Networks. The Company's Other segment includes Enterprise and Government businesses to provide end-to-end products, solutions and services for small, medium, large and extra-large companies to improve conversations and collaboration across employees, customers and partners. The Company sells all of its products and services to the world's telecommunications service providers through its direct sales force. The Company's competitors include Avaya, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Huawei, Nokia Solutions and Networks (NSN), Samsung, Adtran, Calix, Ciena, Juniper, Ericsson and Huawei.
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