Financial Detective 2005 Case Study

The remainder of this note discusses each of the steps in the process and then provides an exercise on the various financial measures that are useful as part of the analysis. The final section of the note demonstrates the relationship between a firm’s strategy and operating characteristics; and its financial characteristics.

Secondary information is collected for this case. This case study limited only one techniques of financial analysis that is Ratio Analysis and also taken a single company. Thus the conclusion of the analysis carried out in a professional manner will be able to correctly describe the evaluation of the company and to substantiate the user’s decisions.

A vertical and horizontal analysis of each company's balance sheet and income statement in this particular case will be enlightening. A vertical analysis will for instance shed some light on how revenue is being used. In this case, each component of the companies' financial statements will be converted into a percentage of a key component of either the balance sheet or the income statement. A special common size balance sheet and income statement will be utilized to ease comparison. The

1. Please conduct a financial ratio analysis using the data in Exhibit 2. How do the results reflect different strategies pursued by the 4 firms?

Most people, when they hear the word “crime,” think about street crime or violent crime such as murder, rape, theft, or drugs. However, there is another type of crime that has cost people their life savings, investors’ billions of dollars, and has had significant impacts of multiple lives; it is called white collar crime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines white collar crime as

4. May Department Stores is a merchandising company and I would link it with balance sheet number four. First clue are the inventories, 23, 2 % of total assets, usual for this type of company. As stated above, the offer their own credit cards, which can be explained the level of account receivables, 25, 7 % of total assets. Compared to the other five companies, May Departments Stores have an amount of PPE (20 % of total assets) that suits best for this type of company. The current liabilities are relatively high, 38, 3 % of total liabilities and shareholders’ equity, usual for merchandising company and a low level of long term debt, 9, 3 %.

This case analysis commences by explaining the type of accounting officer needed to execute the job functions for the client, Big Spenders Inc. The next objective will be to examine the income statements of the two prospective business entities that the client intends to choose from concerning investment – in order to diversify its portfolio. The strategies that will be explored in terms of the analysis of the income statements includes the computation of (i) operation profit margin, (ii) gross margin, (iii) net profit margin, and (iv) return on equity – for both companies of interest. The results of examinations will put the accountant in a position to make sounds recommendation to his superior at BUSI 1043 LLP, so that Big Spenders Inc. can be properly guided.

In this case, a summary sheet which contains 14 sets of financial data from 14 different industries is provided. The task is to match 14 different firms with 14 industries by distinguishing the differences (e.g. sources of financing, profitability, the inventory turnover and the accounts receivable collection period) in the financial structures.

The company’s debt ratios are 54.5% in 1988, 58.69% in 1989, 62.7% in 1990, and 67.37% in 1991. What this means is that the company is increasing its financial risk by taking on more leverage. The company has been taking an extensive amount of purchasing over the past couple of years, which could be the reason as to why net income has not grown much beyond several thousands of dollars. One could argue that the company is trying to expand its inventory to help accumulate future sales. But another problem is that the company’s

Also, according to its leverage ratios, the company’s debts are not only very high, but are also increasing. Its decreasing TIE ratio indicates that its capability to pay interests is decreasing. The company’s efficiency ratios indicate that despite the fact that its fixed assets are increasingly being utilized to generate sales during the years 1990-1991 as indicated by its increasing fixed asset turnover ratio, the decreasing total assets turnover indicate that overall the company’s total assets are not efficiently being put to use. Thus, as a whole its asset management is becoming less efficient. Last but not the least, based on its profitability ratios, the company’s ability to make profit is decreasing.

We believe that Company I represents the Smaller Producer of printing papers and Company J represents the World’s Largest Market of Paper.

In comparing the companies to each other it is important to take into account the liquidity or ability of a firm to meet its current obligations, and solvency

In order to find out the exact firm by analysing the financial structure of typical firms, first we need to separate those firms which have zero inventory turnover (A, B, F and H) from those firms which have zero debt ratio which in our case are (E, H and J) and we use the information to narrow down the possibilities of each firm. In this case there are three groups of companies:

A financial analysis of Ford Motor Company’s (Ford) statements will identify their solvency in today’s automobile market. Elements such as liquidity, leverage, profitability, and activity ratios will demonstrate Ford’s financial health and stability. A further assessment of their technological advantages, global strategies, and benchmarking analysis will indicate the future prognosis of this company.

Computer Company F’s Net Income is 3.3% of its total sales, while Computer Company E’s Net Income is 6.2% of its total sales. Computer Company F’s lower net income could be a result of its “beginning to recover from a dramatic decline in its market share”, which is why I believe Computer Company F is Company 2.