Seeing is believing!

Before you order, simply sign up for a free user account and in seconds you'll be experiencing the best in CFA exam preparation.

Basic Question 4 of 10

When applying the equity method, an investor should report dividends from the investee as:

A. Dividend revenue.
B. A reduction in the investment account.
C. An increase in the investment account.

User Contributed Comments 4

User Comment
katybo inv income is a function of the earnings of the investee and is independent of dividends received, so dividends are recorded as a reduction in investment account. It is like "ex dividend".
quanttrader is it because the investor receives dividend from investee anyhow and therefore will not include it in investment income?
investoprenuer Guess this question answered the queries some might have for the previous question.
davidt876 under the equity method an investment is held as equity (unlike normal investments that are held as assets)

dividends don't increase the value of the equity, they simply represent that equity value being converted into cash on the balance sheet. recognising dividends in the income statement would only increase the equity value which would throw out A = E + L... you'd also be duplicating income as the dividend is already recognised in your % of the entire retained earnings of the investee.

whereas normally when you invest in a stock it's recorded as an asset priced at fair value. when it pays a dividend that increases cash, but the stock's fair value doesn't necessarily decrease by an equal amount (even though EMH says that it should). so under the asset method we have to channel both dividends and unrealised gains/losses into the income statement where they battle it out to either increase or decrease equity
You need to log in first to add your comment.
I used your notes and passed ... highly recommended!
Lauren

Lauren

Learning Outcome Statements

describe the classification, measurement, and disclosure under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for 1) investments in financial assets, 2) investments in associates, 3) joint ventures, 4) business combinations, and 5) special purpose and variable interest entities;

distinguish between IFRS and US GAAP in their classification, measurement, and disclosure of investments in financial assets, investments in associates, joint ventures, business combinations, and special purpose and variable interest entities;

analyze how different methods used to account for intercorporate investments affect financial statements and ratios.

CFA® 2025 Level II Curriculum, Volume 2, Module 10.