Interpreting Financial Statements

SILLA, Inc., is a producer and supplier of natural gas and petroleum based products.

Its condensed statements of operations for the first quarters of 1998 and 1999 are shown below (dollars in thousands):

1999

1998

Revenues:

$63,405

$59,088

Natural gas, oil, and other liquids

1,065

176

Other

64,470

59,264

Costs and expenses:

Operating, exploration, and taxes

19,099

18,844

General and administrative

5,780

5,819

Depreciation, etc.

29,450

25,650

54,329

50,313

Operating income

$10,141

$ 8,951

Required

a. Based on this (partial) income statement, evaluate SILLA’s first quarter performance for 1999. To accomplish this objective, conduct horizontal and vertical analyses.

b. What other information would help you evaluate SILLA’s profitability?

c. Now consider the remainder of SILLA’s income statement as follows:

1999

1998

Operating income

$ 10,141

$ 8,951

Interest expense, net of interest income

(32,259)

(32,575)

Securities gains

5,509

3,280

Other

(370)

(1,851)

Net loss

$ (16,979)

$ (22,195)

Average total assets

$542,500

$553,000

Average total stockholders’ equity

105,345

106,950

Interest expense, net of tax

42,400

43,200

Complete Silla’s income statement (see part a) and evaluate SILLA’s first quarter performance for 1999.

d. To better understand Silla’s performance, calculate the return on assets and return on equity for both periods.

e. How has this new information changed the evaluation of SILLA’s performance? What issues will most concern SILLA’s board of directors? Why? What suggestions could be made to SILLA’s Board?