BASIS Definition

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BASIS, generally, is that figure or value that is the starting point in computing gain or loss, depreciation, depletion, and amortization of a company. Specifically, it is the financial interest that the Internal Revenue Service attributes to an owner of an investment property for the purpose of determining annual depreciation and gain or loss on the sale of the asset. If a property was acquired by purchase, the owners basis is the cost of the property plus the value of any capital expenditures for improvements to the property, minus any depreciation allowable or actually taken. This new basis is called the ADJUSTED BASIS.

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ANALYSTS' ESTIMATES is where analysts, stockbrokers and banks give opinions and forecasts (often referred to as estimates) as to future company performance. Broker recommendations and other data are provided by Barra's Global Estimates service. BARRA collate and analyze the brokers' forecasts, and calculate consensus figures from the individual data.

RESERVE ACCOUNTS, generally, are those accounts where retained earnings are set aside to satisfy dividends, improvements, contingencies, retirement of preferred stock, etc.

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