Balance Sheet: Assets

The balance sheet provides creditors, investors, and analysts with information on company resources (assets) and its sources of capital (its equity and liabilities). It normally also provides information about the future earnings capacity of a company assets as well as an indication of cash flows that may come from receivables and inventories.

Assets are resources controlled by the company as a result of past events and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.

Merck & Co. Inc., consolidated balance sheet: assets

US$ in millions

	Dec 31, 2023	Dec 31, 2022	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	6,841)	12,694)	8,096)	8,062)	9,676)
Short-term investments	252)	498)	—)	—)	774)
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	10,349)	9,450)	9,230)	7,851)	6,778)
Inventories, excludes inventories classified in Other assets	6,358)	5,911)	5,953)	6,310)	5,978)
Other current assets	8,368)	7,169)	6,987)	5,541)	4,277)
Current assets	32,168)	35,722)	30,266)	27,764)	27,483)
Investments	252)	1,015)	370)	785)	1,469)
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	23,051)	21,422)	19,279)	17,986)	15,053)
Goodwill	21,197)	21,204)	21,264)	20,238)	19,425)
Other intangibles, net	18,011)	20,269)	22,933)	14,604)	14,196)
Other assets	11,996)	9,528)	11,582)	10,211)	6,771)
Noncurrent assets	74,507)	73,438)	75,428)	63,824)	56,914)
Total assets	106,675)	109,160)	105,694)	91,588)	84,397)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).

Assets: Selected Items

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Balance sheet item	Description	The company
Current assets	Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold, or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle, if longer). Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.	Merck & Co. Inc. current assets increased from 2021 to 2022 but then slightly decreased from 2022 to 2023 not reaching 2021 level.
Property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	Amount after accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, and furniture and fixtures.	Merck & Co. Inc. property, plant and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation increased from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023.
Noncurrent assets	Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold or consumed after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.	Merck & Co. Inc. noncurrent assets decreased from 2021 to 2022 but then increased from 2022 to 2023 not reaching 2021 level.
Total assets	Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.	Merck & Co. Inc. total assets increased from 2021 to 2022 but then slightly decreased from 2022 to 2023 not reaching 2021 level.

Current Assets: Selected Items

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Balance sheet item	Description	The company
Cash and cash equivalents	Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.	Merck & Co. Inc. cash and cash equivalents increased from 2021 to 2022 but then decreased significantly from 2022 to 2023.
Short-term investments	Amount of investment in marketable security, classified as current.	Merck & Co. Inc. short-term investments increased from 2021 to 2022 but then slightly decreased from 2022 to 2023.
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.	Merck & Co. Inc. accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts increased from 2021 to 2022 and from 2022 to 2023.
Inventories, excludes inventories classified in Other assets	Amount after valuation and LIFO reserves of inventory expected to be sold, or consumed within one year or operating cycle, if longer.	Merck & Co. Inc. inventories, excludes inventories classified in Other assets decreased from 2021 to 2022 but then increased from 2022 to 2023 exceeding 2021 level.

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK)

Balance Sheet: Assets

Assets: Selected Items

Current Assets: Selected Items