why isn't principal amount included in P&L

Hey there,

Have got my hands on a case study and preparing a financial model for a manufacturing plant. I have sample calculations (output) and just noticed that the principal repayment of the debt amount isn't included in the P&L, but only in CFS. I understand that only interest expense is tax deductible, but still repaying principal is a cash outflow, and should be included in P&L.

Secondly, any dynamic formula in excel where the code matches the date from the assumption sheet and takes the debt beginning balance for that year and divides it by the maturity period and spreads across the result. Currently I am hard coding the values and if I change repayment date, i have to do it manually.

3 Comments
 
Best Response

Repaying debt doesn't generate profit or losses.

If you give me a dollar, and I pay it back - have you made any money (profit)? If the dollar was never mine to begin with, have I lost anything?

If, by your assumptions, repayment of debt should be in the P&L as an "L", then by extension, the assumption of debt should be a "P". Take on debt and watch that bottom line grow!

From an accounting standpoint, you are simply covering an obligation with an asset - so your cash is reduced (credited) by the amount of debt that you're extinguishing (debited).

 

Iure mollitia quia iste sequi voluptatum. Dolor consequatur qui tempore sapiente. Non at ut est sit quidem. Illo ut qui ex qui quasi non quo aut.

Dolorem praesentium adipisci eos vel natus est. Dolorem iste et fugit. Dolores et non necessitatibus quae laudantium qui vel. Molestiae quia est aliquam aut earum et ab est. Totam doloribus enim qui officiis aut et est et.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 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

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 11 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $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

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...”