Description: This paper considers two principles which at present are given little weight in accounting for investments: 1. the reported earnings of a business entity should not change solely because an investment is sold at a capital gain or loss and the proceeds are reinvested, and 2. the accounting treatment of common stock investments should not vary according to the portion of the issuer's outstanding common stock which the investment represents. The implications of these principles are explored in accounting for bonds, stocks and business combinations. A discussion of this paper is included.