Beholdningsnøytralitet

Beholdningsnøytralitet is a concept within inventory management and accounting that refers to a state where the valuation method used for inventory does not impact the reported profitability of a company. This typically occurs when the cost of goods sold is consistently calculated using a method that mirrors the actual flow of inventory.

In practice, beholdningsnøytralitet is most closely achieved when using a FIFO (First-In, First-Out) inventory valuation method. With FIFO, it is assumed that the oldest inventory items are sold first. If there are no price changes or fluctuations in the cost of acquiring inventory, then the cost of goods sold will accurately reflect the cost of the inventory that has left the business, and the ending inventory value will reflect the most recently acquired items.

However, beholdningsnøytralitet can be disrupted by inflation or deflation in the prices of inventory. During periods of rising prices, FIFO can lead to a higher reported profit because older, cheaper inventory is expensed first, while newer, more expensive inventory remains on hand. Conversely, during periods of falling prices, FIFO can result in lower reported profits.

Other inventory valuation methods, such as LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) or weighted-average cost, can lead to different profit figures depending on price changes. LIFO, for example, often results in a lower reported profit during inflationary periods as the most recently purchased, higher-cost inventory is expensed first. The achievement of true beholdningsnøytralitet is thus dependent on stable inventory costs or the specific selection and consistent application of an appropriate valuation method.