• Research and development expenses are capitalized and amortized rather than expensed (R&D expense is added back to earnings to compute NOPAT).
• In the case of strategic investments that are not expected to generate a return immediately, a charge for capital is suspended until a later date.
• Goodwill is capitalized and not amortized (amortization expense is added back in arriving at NOPAT, and accumulated amortization is added back to capital).
• Deferred taxes are eliminated such that only cash taxes are treated as an expense.
• Any inventory LIFO reserve is added back to capital, and any increase in the LIFO reserve is added in arriving at NOPAT.
• Operating leases are treated as capital leases, and nonrecurring items are adjusted.