How is the income statement really linked to the balance sheet? I don't get it

Everybody says net income flows into retained earnings. I get that. 

But what I don't get is when I assess the individual transactions during the year "i.e., walk me through the effect of depreciation ..." - why does depreciation reduce retained earnings when all of this is PRE income tax

Do we just hypotehtically state that "a depreciation of 10 reduces retained earnings by 10"? because in reality I would calculate net income and book the net income (after tax) against retained earnings, correct?

5 Comments
 

I would hate to give a long winded answer but you kinda have to know this like the back of your hand mate.

Here is the deal, while depreciation is Pre-tax, it imapcts your post-tax NI. NI will flow to retain earning as well as the first line item in your cfs. D&A will also be added back into your D&A thus that will impact your ending cash balance. Cash is a plug from the CFS.

Note, increase in depreciation means decrease in Pp&e. At the end of the rundown, your Asset (change in cash and Pp&E) will equal your L&E (change in RE)

Please let me know which part is confusing, happy to dive deeper.

 

If depreciation reduces by $10, net income goes up $7 (assuming 30% tax rate). 

Net income flows to the top of the cash flow statement. CFO (ignoring CFF and CFI) starts up $7, but the $10 decrease in depreciation takes net cash change down to -$3.

On the BS, PP&E will be raised $10, cash is down $3, totaling $7 increase in assets. The net income (ignoring dividends) flows into retaining earnings, so equity is up $7, and both sides balance.

 

Minus repellat sed nostrum tempora cum in sed inventore. Eveniet velit nobis vitae repellat quibusdam in. Ex alias velit sit.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan No 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”