What was paid in an acquisition above the value of the tangible things — for the brand, the customer base, the know-how. That premium then sits on the balance sheet as an entry.
MoatLens tip: Goodwill is a promise, not a possession. It says: we paid more because we expect more. If that fails to materialise, the company must write it down — and the balance sheet shrinks overnight. When goodwill grows faster than revenue for years, the company is buying its growth rather than earning it. Large write-downs are an admission: the acquisition was too expensive.
In MoatLens this explanation sits right next to the number — one tap away. And you see the ten-year trend instead of a single value.
