Span-America Medical Systems (Span-America Medical Systems) Retained Earnings : $30.93 Mil (As of Mar. 2017)

Span-America Medical Systems Retained Earnings Chart

Span-America Medical Systems Annual Data
	Trend	Sep07	Sep08	Sep09	Sep10	Sep11	Sep12	Sep13	Sep14	Sep15	Sep16
Retained Earnings		Get a 7-Day Free Trial					26.20	26.83	27.74	26.85	29.13

Span-America Medical Systems Quarterly Data
	Jun12	Sep12	Dec12	Mar13	Jun13	Sep13	Dec13	Mar14	Jun14	Sep14	Dec14	Mar15	Jun15	Sep15	Dec15	Mar16	Jun16	Sep16	Dec16	Mar17
Retained Earnings	Get a 7-Day Free Trial															27.67	28.16	29.13	29.66	30.93

Span-America Medical Systems Retained Earnings Calculation

Retained Earnings is the accumulated portion of net income that is not distributed to shareholders. Because the net income was not distributed to shareholders, shareholders' equity is increased by the same amount.

Of course, if a company loses, it is called retained losses, or accumulated losses.

Span-America Medical Systems  (NAS:SPAN) Retained Earnings Explanation

Historically profitable companies sometimes have negative retained earnings. This is because they have cumulatively paid out more to shareholders than they reported in profits.

For example, in 2011, Microsoft had negative retained earnings. This does not mean the company lost more money than it made over the years. It just means it paid out more money than it earned.

If a company has negative retained earnings, investors should check the 10-year financial results. They should not assume that negative retained earnings prove a company has generally lost money in the past.

Of course, many companies with negative retained earnings have indeed lost money in the past.

Retained Earnings: Warren Buffett's Secret.

One of the most important indicators of durable competitive advantage. Net earnings can be paid out as dividends, used to buy back shares or retained for growth.

If the company loses more than it has accumulated, retained earnings is negative.

If a company isn't adding to its retained earnings, it isn't growing its net worth.

Rate of growth of retained earnings is good indicator whether it's benefiting from a competitive advantage.

Microsoft is negative because it chose to buyback stock and pay dividends.

The more earnings retained, the faster it grows and increases growth rate for future earnings.

Span-America Medical Systems (Span-America Medical Systems) Business Description