JAMB Principles Of Accounts · Section A
Study notes for Stock Valuation — part of the JAMB UTME Principles Of Accounts syllabus. 1 learning objectives with explanations and exam tips.
Stock valuation determines how much inventory costs appear on your income statement, affecting gross profit directly. When you sell goods, you need to know their cost price. Think of a Nigerian supermarket that bought rice at ₦5,000 per bag in January and ₦6,000 per bag in March. When they sell bags in April, which price do they use? That's stock valuation.
Three methods exist: FIFO (First In, First Out) assumes oldest stock sells first, LIFO (Last In, First Out) assumes newest stock sells first, and Average Cost uses the middle ground. Each method produces different cost of goods sold figures, changing your profit. During inflation, LIFO reduces profit while FIFO increases it.
Your choice affects both the income statement and balance sheet significantly.