Figure 1 summarizes the steps that transform underlying cash flows from operations (CFO) into Stern Stewart's economic value added (EVA). Adjusting CFO for accounting accruals (such as depreciation and interest expense) yields bottom line accounting earnings (NI). Adding back after-tax interest expense to NI yields net operating profits after tax (NOPAT). Subtracting the current cost of both debt and equity capital from NOPAT yields residual income (RI). To compute economic value added (EVA), Stern Stewart adjusts the NOPAT and capital components of residual income for what are termed “accounting anomalies" or "distortions.” Some of their more common adjustments are shown in Table 1. Some of these adjustments undo traditional accounting accruals (such as eliminating deferred tax accounting in favor of actual cash taxes paid). Other adjustments switch accrual methods (e.g. from LIFO to FIFO). Still others introduce new accruals not used in traditional GAAP-based accounting (e.g., capitalization and amortization of marketing and R&D expenditures).