Amortization (Historical)
Returns historical amortization expense for a company. Amortization is the systematic allocation of the cost of intangible assets over their useful life. It's a non-cash expense that reduces reported income but doesn't affect cash flow.
Supported Symbols
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| US Stocks | SYMBOL | AAPL, MSFT |
| ETFs | SYMBOL | SPY, QQQ |
| International | SYMBOL | SHOP, TSM |
Parameters
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Stock ticker symbol |
| Year | Fiscal year (2020, 2021) or period code (lq, ly, lt) |
| Quarter | Optional: 1, 2, 3, or 4 for quarterly data |
| TTM | Optional: Set to "TTM" for trailing twelve months |
Amortization vs Depreciation
| Item | Applies To |
|---|---|
| Amortization | Intangible assets (patents, software, goodwill) |
| Depreciation | Tangible assets (equipment, buildings) |
Notes
- Amortization is a non-cash expense
- Added back in cash flow statement
- High amortization common after acquisitions (goodwill/intangibles)
Examples
=hf_Amortization("AAPL", 2023)=hf_Amortization("MSFT", 2023, 2)=hf_Amortization("GOOGL", "ly")=hf_Amortization("AMZN", 2023, , "TTM")=hf_Amortization(A1, B1, C1)When to Use
- Understanding non-cash expenses
- Calculating EBITDA components
- Analyzing acquisition impacts
- Cash flow analysis
- Comparing operating vs reported profits
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need depreciation only | hf_Depreciation() |
| Need combined D&A | hf_Depreciation_and_Amortization() |
| Need EBITDA directly | hf_EBITDA() |
| Need intangibles only | hf_Amortization_of_intangibles() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Q: Why is amortization important for acquisitive companies? A: Companies that make many acquisitions often have high amortization from acquired intangibles. This reduces reported profits but doesn't affect cash.
Q: How does amortization affect EBITDA? A: EBITDA adds back amortization (the 'A' in EBITDA), showing operating profit before this non-cash charge.
Q: Why am I getting "NA"? A: Some companies have minimal intangible assets and thus low or no amortization to report.
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