GUIDELINES
Use of proper APA writing style (This means all submissions must adhere to the required in-text citations and a reference list for all submissions 25%).
In-text citations account for 8 %
Current articles (at least 6) account for 12% (see page 4 of syllabus) These must be used in your submission per APA.
Reference list accounts for 5 %
Total 25%
Subtopics (This means that all assignments must have the required subheadings listed below starting with the introduction).
1. Introduction to the Topic (paraphrased 10 points (this is not a summary).
The discussion of the case is grounded in the facts as presented therefore you must discuss the core of the case with in-text citations.
2. A description of the area(s) of Finance (10 points)
This area shows your understanding of the main points related to this week’s topic. It must conform to Financial Management Theory with examples to justify understanding). A financial area is your understanding of a description of the topic area such as the Time Value of Money, which serves as the main point of the topic of finance.
3. A Detailed Case Discussion (50 points).
Essay responses to all assigned subtopics in the assignment tab are composed in this section with the respective subtopic. In-text citations included.
These are the four self-selected themes from your research to be documented as subtopics. (8 points each).
Subtopic 1
Subtopic 2
Subtopic 3
Subtopic 4
Personal conclusion to the case (This section is important and indicates your understanding of the topic and what you have documented). 10 points
General Conclusion ( Restate the important points you documented in the prior paragraphs with in-text citations 8 points.)
THE ASK
Financial Analysis of a Public Company( A company that sells stock to the public).
For this assignment, you may select any public company that issues stock and is traded on the stock exchange. (visit Sec.gov or Pcaob .gov for 10ks Congressional Agencies that oversee The public accounting firms that audit public companies.
The objectives of this project are as follows:
1. To acquaint students with the annual report and Form 10-K of a publicly held company audited by a CPA firm.
2. To provide data for the practical application of concepts in financial statement analysis.
Detailed Instructions:
Obtain a copy of a recent annual report of a publicly held company with stock actively traded on the New York, NASDAQ, or other over-the-counter exchanges. Answer the following questions (in paragraph form, using APA writing guidelines):
a. What is the company’s industry?
b. What are its primary products?
c. What raw materials does the company use?
d. How large is the company:
• sales
• assets
• employees
e. Where is the company located?
f. What other people/companies are closely associated with this company?
g. Look at the annual report (It is different from the 10K and if you cannot find the actual company annual report, you may review another company’s annual report for the general format for comparison with the 10K).
• What image does it intend to convey?
• What are the segments and functional contents of the report?
3. Obtain a copy of the Company’s 10-K report for the same date as the annual report. Answer the following question:
a. How does the 10-K differ from the annual report?
4. Obtain outside information about the company and its industry (Some of this information may be available in the Annual Report or the 10K).
Answer the following questions:
h. What are the key economic factors of the industry?
i. Where is the company in its life cycle?
j. What are the five or six most important factors for success in this business?j
k. How does this company stand with respect to these factors?
l. Describe four or five key business risks related to the client’s business and industry.
m. What notable accounting considerations are there for companies in this industry?
n. What legal or regulatory matters are of concern?
o. What social matters are of concern?
Section 5
You should provide your answers in individual titled paragraphs in addition, # 5 requires you to conduct an analysis. This response needs calculations which should be provided in a spreadsheet or table format.
5. Analyze the company’s financial strength (using various financial ratios discussed in the chapters):
p. Assess the financial strength of the company for a three-year period? Periods must be consistent (for example 2017, 2018, 2019).
q. How is the financial strength likely to change in the next year or so?
r. What are its sources of capital and what is the value of the company’s capital?
s. How have capital markets responded to the company in the last year (stocks, bonds, and loan increases over the previous year?
t. How does the company compare with others in the industry?
What am I looking for?
This project should not be viewed as a management or marketing project, this is a financial statement analysis assignment and must be prepared as such.
