BUS 500 MULTI-MODULE COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM ASSIGNMENT

MULTI-MODULE COMPREHENSIVE PROBLEM ASSIGNMENTBackground:The purpose of this comprehensive project is to use a variety of resources to research a corporation. You will also prepare a written paper describing your corporation and summarizing the findings you have developed in the first three parts of the project.Instructions: First choose a company to research. The company must be publicly traded, not the company where you currently work. Your selection may be a competitor of the company you currently work for, a company related to a hobby of yours, a possible stock investment, or simply sound interesting. Each student will select a different company; however companies may be within the same industry.Required Part I – Module FiveA. Research and then describe your company’s primary business activities. Include:1. A brief historical summary,2. A list of competitors,3. The company’s position within the industry,4. Recent developments within the company/industry,5. Future direction, and6. Other items of significance to your corporation.B. Include information from a variety of resources. For example:1. Consult the Form 10-K filed with the SEC.2. Review the Annual Report and especially the Letter to Shareholders3. Explore the corporate website.4. Select at least two significant news items from recent business periodicalsC. Submit a written report that is 2-4 pages long. The report should be well written with introductory and concluding paragraphs. References must be appropriately cited. Be sure to address all of the points in Section A above, using all of the resources listed in Section B.Format: Double-spaced, one-inch margins, using a 12-point Times New Roman font. Include a complete bibliography.Required Part II – Module Six:The purpose of the second part of the comprehensive project is to compute financial statement ratios. A. Based on formulas given in Appendix B, compute the following ratios in Excel for two years.1. Debt ratio2. Gross profit margin3. Free cash flow4. Times interest earned5. Accounts receivable turnover6. Inventory turnoverC. Prepare a DuPont Analysis of ROE for two years, including computations of1. Return on Sales2. Asset Turnover3. Return on Assets4. Financial Leverage5. Return on EquityD. Briefly evaluate the ratio trends. Indicate on your worksheet whether each ratio is:1. stronger / weaker2. quicker /slower3. more / less liquid4. more / less riskE. Submit a report. Write a 2-4 page report evaluating trends in all of the above ratios. Discuss whether your company’s profitability, efficiency, liquidity, and solvency are improving or deteriorating.Format: Double-spaced, one-inch margins, using a 12-point Times New Roman font.Required Part III – Module Seven:The purpose of the third part of the comprehensive project is to use resources available to obtain industry averages for commonly used ratios. Additionally you will compare company ratio results to industry averages.A. Obtain the four-digit primary SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) Code and industry title for your company. Record the primary SIC code and industry title at the top of the Ratio Analysis Worksheet.B. Obtain industry averages for commonly used ratios in the current period. Industry average information is reported by industry title or SIC code.C. Look up the following industry-average ratios:1. Current ratio2. Debt ratio3. Gross profit margin4. Times interest earned5. Accounts receivable turnover6. Inventory turnover7. Return on Sales8. Asset Turnover9. Return on Assets10. Financial Leverage11. Return on EquityNote that some industry averages maynot apply to your company.D. Submit a report. Write a 2-4 page report comparing the above ratios to industry averages. Discuss whether your company’s profitability, efficiency, liquidity, and solvency are better than, or worse then, its peers.Format: Double-spaced, one-inch margins, using a 12-point Times New Roman font.Required Part IV – Module Eight:A. Prepare a well-written titled “Would You Advise a Friend to Invest in This Company?” based upon your research and analysis of this company’s financial information. Identify 3-5 significant points that justify your conclusion. Support your points with a comprehensive explanation incorporating sound reasoning.B. Submit a report that is 4-5 pages long. The report should be well written with introductory and concluding paragraphs. References must be appropriately cited.Format: Double-spaced, one-inch margins, using a 12-point Times New Roman font.

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