This project allows you the opportunity to perform critical thinking, by addressing specific financial trends and industry comparisons for the following companies:
Costco
Walmart
This project will be a comparison/contrast paper that shows a demonstration of the application of financial analysis and critical thinking. You will be performing trend analysis and industry comparisons on 3-4 years worth of financial statement data (whatever tells the story).
So . . . .what is required . . . .
1. Discuss each company’s current management of working capital and current assets:
a. How does seasonality affect cash balances and inventory management?
b. Is the company managing and using its current assets well? Why, or why not?
c. What type of financing strategy does the company use?
d. How might free cash flow impact financing and investing decisions?
2. Assume the firm needs to raise a large amount of cash. Compare the choices of raising these funds in the capital market (selling new shares of stock) versus the bond market (debt financing), and make a decision as to what is best and why. Also, consider ethical implications of financial reporting and how it relates to acquiring additional investors and accessing markets for additional capital. Consider the impact on the following on your choice:
a. The company’s existing capital structure
b. The company’s current market capitalization
c. The company’s weighted average cost of capital
d. The company’s degree of operating, financial and combined leverage
3. Take one of the following positions and justify your decision:
a. You are a banker who has been approached by this company to borrow a sum of money (you decide how much, and why). Based on the company’s financials and its future business prospects, would you loan the money? Why or why not.
b. You are an investor with a large sum of money (or a company looking for an investment), and buying either the company or shares of stock in the company is being considered. Determine, based on the company’s financials and its future business prospects, whether you will invest in this company or not.
