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January 21, 2009

What is retained earnings?

Generally, retained earnings is a corporation’s cumulative earnings since the corporation was formed minus the dividends it has declared since it began. In other words, retained earnings represents the corporation’s cumulative earnings that have not been distributed to its stockholders.

The amount of retained earnings as of a balance sheet’s date is reported as a separate line item in theĀ  stockholders’ equity section of the balance sheet.

A negative amount of retained earnings is reported as deficit or accumulated deficit.

Learn more about Stockholders’ Equity.




Comments

4 Responses to “What is retained earnings?”

  1. shani on February 10th, 2009 7:57 am

    plz send me the answer for me
    Wht is the entry Of Partners Withdrew For peechtree Softwear
    Wht A/c Include The partners Withdrew

  2. cortney on March 24th, 2009 3:33 pm

    I didnt know that retained earning had regative earning. I always figured that it was going up not down.

  3. Marty on June 25th, 2009 3:21 pm

    Another definition of retained earnings could be:

    cumulative undistributed profits (positive number) and losses) negative number

    if profits are negative (losses) than the amount of undistributed

  4. Marty on June 25th, 2009 3:22 pm

    Another definition of retained earnings could be:

    undistributed profits

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