Impairment Explained: Meaning, Types, Process, and Use Cases
Impairment is the recognition that an asset is worth less than the amount a company has been carrying on its books. It matters because it affects profits, balance sheet strength, bank loan-loss reserves, acquisition outcomes, and how investors judge management quality. In practice, impairment can apply to factories, goodwill, patents, real estate, and loan portfolios, making it a core concept in finance, accounting, and investing.