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Which inventory costing method would have the effect of maximizing net income?

Author

Matthew Harrington

Updated on January 03, 2026

FIFO
FIFO leaves the newer, more expensive inventory in a rising-price environment, on the balance sheet. As a result, FIFO can increase net income because inventory that might be several years old–which was acquired for a lower cost–is used to value COGS.

Which cost method will provide the highest net income?

Under FIFO, you assign inventory costs in purchase date sequence. Because FIFO has you subtract the cost of your oldest — and therefore least expensive — inventory from sales, your gross income is higher.

Does FIFO or LIFO have higher net income?

FIFO gives a more accurate value for ending inventory on the balance sheet. On the other hand, FIFO increases net income and increased net income can increase taxes owed. The LIFO method assumes the last item entering inventory is the first sold.

How do you calculate the value of inventory?

Inventory values can be calculated by multiplying the number of items on hand with the unit price of the items.

Which inventory method is going to yield the highest net income in a period of rising costs?

In rising markets, FIFO yields the lowest cost of goods sold and the highest taxable income.

Why net income is different for LIFO vs FIFO?

The main difference between LIFO and FIFO is based on the assertion that the most recent inventory purchased is usually the most expensive. If that assertion is accurate, using LIFO will result in a higher cost of goods sold and less profit, which also directly affects the amount of taxes you’ll have to pay.

What is standard cost of inventory?

What is Standard Costing? The Standard Costing method does not use historical cost to build inventory value or determine cost of goods sold, but instead involves assigning “set”, predetermined costs to your inventory items for valuation.

How do you calculate the cost of inventory?

The inventory cost formula is important because it directly affects the company’s profit. This formula uses the beginning inventory value, ending inventory value and purchase costs over the period. Calculate inventory cost by adding the beginning inventory to inventory purchases and subtracting the ending inventory.

What is per unit inventory value?

Using the Average Cost Method, Dollars of Goods Available for Sale is divided by Units of Goods Available for Sale to determine a cost per unit. In the above example, average cost = $6,000/480 = $12.50 per unit.

What is the formula of inventory?

Average inventory formula: Take your beginning inventory for a given period of time (usually a month). Add that number to your end of period inventory (month, season, or year), and then divide by 2 (or 7, 13, etc). (Beginning of Month Inventory + End of Month Inventory) ÷ 2 = Average Inventory (Month)

How do you calculate ending inventory cost?

Under this, the average cost per unit is computed by dividing the total cost of goods available for sale. Ending Inventory is valued by multiplying the average cost per unit by the number of units available at the end of the reporting period.

Does LIFO increase net income?

LIFO. The LIFO valuation method assumes that the last inventory item purchased is the first one used in production or sale. This means that the net income and ending balance amounts are lower under the LIFO method. However, when prices are falling, the LIFO method is likely to generate higher net income.