Covista Communications (Covista Communications) Intangible Assets : $2.27 Mil (As of Apr. 2005)

Covista Communications Intangible Assets Chart

Covista Communications Annual Data
	Trend	Jan96	Jan97	Jan98	Jan99	Jan00	Jan01	Jan02	Jan03	Jan04	Jan05
Intangible Assets		Get a 7-Day Free Trial					-	-	14.99	12.98	2.37

Covista Communications Quarterly Data
	Jul00	Oct00	Jan01	Apr01	Jul01	Oct01	Jan02	Apr02	Jul02	Oct02	Jan03	Apr03	Jul03	Oct03	Jan04	Apr04	Jul04	Oct04	Jan05	Apr05
Intangible Assets	Get a 7-Day Free Trial															12.45	11.92	2.47	2.37	2.27

Covista Communications 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.

Covista Communications  (OTCPK:CVST) 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.

Covista Communications Intangible Assets Related Terms

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Covista Communications (Covista Communications) Business Description