Building an Awareness of Unrealized Capital Accounts in Stockholders' Equity

Abstract

Accounting faculty and students are familiar with the accounts included in a simple stockholders' equity section of a balance sheet. However, in recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of corporations reporting additional equity accounts that are not as readily recognized or understood. This article explains six of these accounts: cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment, unearned compensation, guaranteed employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) obligations, net unrealized holding gain or loss on available-for-sale securities, stockholders' notes receivable, and unrealized pension cost. An illustration of how these accounts may appear on the balance sheet is provided.