Staples (Staples) Intangible Assets : $1,457 Mil (As of Jul. 2017)

Staples Intangible Assets Chart

Staples Annual Data
	Trend	Jan08	Jan09	Jan10	Jan11	Jan12	Jan13	Jan14	Jan15	Jan16	Jan17
Intangible Assets		Get a 7-Day Free Trial					3,605.77	3,616.30	3,015.00	2,267.00	1,495.00

Staples Quarterly Data
	Oct12	Jan13	Apr13	Jul13	Oct13	Jan14	Apr14	Jul14	Oct14	Jan15	Apr15	Jul15	Oct15	Jan16	Apr16	Jul16	Oct16	Jan17	Apr17	Jul17
Intangible Assets	Get a 7-Day Free Trial															2,260.00	2,212.00	1,495.00	1,460.00	1,457.00

Staples 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.

Staples  (NAS:SPLS) 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.

Staples Intangible Assets Related Terms

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Staples (Staples) Business Description