Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and whenever events and circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. The evaluation of goodwill involves comparing the current fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. We operate as a single operating segment with one reporting unit, and accordingly, our annual goodwill impairment test was based on an evaluation of the fair value of our Company as a whole, using a combination of income and
market capitalization approaches. We completed the required annual goodwill impairment test as of July 1, 2021, and the fair value was substantially in excess of net asset carrying value.
Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Estimated useful lives range from 7 to 30 years for trademarks, 7 to 17 years for patents and acquired technologies, and 2 to 16 years for other intangible assets. An impairment loss would be indicated when estimated undiscounted future cash flows from the use of the asset are less than its carrying amount. An impairment loss would be measured as the difference between the fair value (based on discounted future cash flows) and the carrying amount of the asset.

Historical Timeline

Fiscal YearFiled
2021Feb 23, 2022Showing above
2020Feb 19, 2021
2019Feb 25, 2020
2018Feb 26, 2019
2017Feb 27, 2018
2016Feb 27, 2017
2015Feb 29, 2016

About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures

Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.

Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.