1)   Using either Yahoo Finance or Google, select a publicly-traded company and examine its financial statements in a paper of between 750 and 1475 words (3 to 5 pages). You should present an overview of the company, answering the following questions from the financial statements:

1. What were the company's total assets, total liabilities, and total stockholders' equity amounts at the end of the fiscal year?
2. What was the company's total noncurrent liabilities for the fiscal year?
3. What was the company’s total operating expenses?
4. What was the company's current ratio for the fiscal year?
5. For the fiscal year, did the company have a cash inflow or cash outflow from investing activities? How much?
6. For the fiscal year, how much was the company's cash flow from operating activities?
7. Compute the company's total asset turnover for the fiscal year.
8. What was the company’s net income for the year?
9. What was the company's earnings per share (basic only)?
10. Compute the company's net profit margin.
11. How much cash and cash equivalents did the company report at the end of the fiscal year?
12. Compute the debt ratio.

Your paper should:

·        Demonstrate your familiarity with each financial statement and its importance.

·        Discuss the interrelationships among the statements.

·        Provide an overall evaluation of the financial health of the selected company based on the statements.

·        Speculate how these statements might be used by the business for data-informed decision making.

·        Be properly documented in APA style, showing the sources of all outside information.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 1.2, MO 1.3]

2)   The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)’s Conceptual Framework presents five acceptable measurement attributes for financial reporting:

·        Historical cost

·        Replacement cost

·        Current market value

·        Net realizable value

·        Present value

Even though all of these measurement attributes are acceptable for financial reporting purposes, most of the financial statements elements are measured by historical cost.

Write an academic paper of 750 to 1475 words (3 to 5 pages) that compares the validity and reliability of historical cost to the other measurement attributes. Your paper should include discussion of:

·        The qualitative characteristics of each measurement attribute, including a definition and examples.

·        The assumptions related to various measurement attributes.

·        Your opinion on whether using historical cost has positive or negative effects on the informational value of a company’s financial reporting.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 2.1, MO 2.2, MO 2.3]

3)   Perform library and Internet research on a recent fraudulent financial reporting case. In a paper of between 750 and 1475 words (3 to 5 pages), do the following:

·        Provide a summary of the company’s history and background.

·        Describe and then analyze the fraud committed.

·        Discuss how the fraud was detected and reported.

·        Present information about the damages/losses caused by the fraud.

·        Analyze the internal control deficiencies that allowed the fraud, including any applicability of SOX or the COSO internal control framework.

·        Recommend strategic planning that the company could execute that would result in remediation and corrective actions to correct internal control deficiencies.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 3.1, MO 3.2, MO 3.3]

4)   Accounting and management literature has, for a long time, been interested in the relationship between budget participation and employee performance, even though there is no agreement on the nature of the cause-and-effect relationship between participation in the budget process and employee (especially managerial) motivation or performance.

After performing library and online research, write an academic paper of between 750 and 1475 words (3 to 5 pages) on the effects of budget participation on employees’ performance. Begin your paper with a general discussion of the importance of budgeting for companies. Your paper should acknowledge different views of the relationship between budget participation and employee performance, but you should present an argument on whether or not the budget can be used as an effective tool to change and manage employees’ attitudes and performance.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 4.1]

5)   An understanding of the time value of money is a critical contributing factor to successful investment and financing decisions. Write an academic paper of between 750 and 1475 words (3 to 5 pages) explaining the time value of money concept and its relationship to business and management as well as personal life.

Your paper should also include discussion on:

·        Differences between present value and future value.

·        Differences between present value of ordinary annuity and present value of annuity due.

·        How the time value of money can be used by management to maximize return and reduce risk.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 5.2, MO 5.3]

6)   Financial managers have access to a variety of tools to help them make well informed financial and investment decisions. Some of the most common strategic concepts are break-even analysis, the cost of capital concept, and optimal capital structure. Write an academic paper of between 1000 and 1475 words (4 to 5 pages) describing how financial managers can improve their performance by using different techniques. Where there are related ethical or legal issues, be sure to include them in your paper. Your paper should include discussion on:

·        Differences between financial structure and capital structure.

·        Objectives of capital structure management.

·        Optimal capital structure.

·        Assumptions of the break-even analysis.

·        Weakness points of the break-even analysis.

·        The nonlinear break-even analysis.

·        Ethical and legal issues related to these concepts.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 6.3]

7)   Read the case study below regarding capital-budgeting techniques. In a paper of between 750 and 1475 words (3 to 5 pages), address the questions that follow the case study.

Case Study: Alexander & Sons

Alexander & Sons Company is currently considering the purchase of equipment that produces mugs.

·        The equipment needed would cost $3 million, with a disposal value of $400,000.

·        The equipment would be able to produce 55 million mugs over its 5-year life.

The company has estimated that approximately 11 million mugs would be sold for each of the next 5 years, at the following prices:

·        $1.00 for year 1 and 2

·        $1.20 for year 3 and 4

·        $1.25 for year 5

The company would hire seven new employees.

·        These seven individuals would be full-time employees.

·        Each will work 2,000 hours per year and earn:

o   $31 per hour in the first 3 years.

o   $32 per hour in year 4 and 5.

All employees would also receive annual benefits making up 20 percent of wages, in addition to an annual $10,000 cost for health benefits for each employee.

It is estimated that:

·        The raw materials needed will cost 0.50 per mug.

·        Other variable costs would be 0.20 per mug.

·        No additional fixed costs would be incurred if this project is accepted.

The company's discount rate is 10 percent, and the current tax rate of 35 percent is anticipated to remain unchanged. The company uses the straight-line method for depreciation.

Case Study Questions

Based on the above information, calculate the following items:

·        Annual net cash flows over the expected life of the equipmen

·         Payback period

·        Net present value

·        The accounting rate of return

Would you recommend the acceptance of this project? Explain your analysis fully, based on the calculations you have made as well data-informed strategic planning principles.

Be sure to:

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills. [MO 7.2, MO 7.3, MO 7.4]

8)   Topics covered include:

·        Basic financial statements

·        Conceptual framework of financial reporting

·        Internal controls and fraud

·        Budgeting and responsibility accounting

PROJECT GUIDELINES

Walmart Inc. is an American company that operates more than 11,500 retail stores worldwide; approximately 40 percent of these locations are in the United States. Walmart has approximately 2.3 million full-time employees. 

Use the Internet and /or the University library to find the most recent financial statements and annual report for Walmart. Write an academic paper of between 2000 and 2750 words (8 to 10 pages) that presents a discussion and analysis of the following topics:

1.      Describe the overall financial health of Walmart. Do the reports show an increase in net income, total revenues, total assets, and earnings per share? 

2.                State the total retained earnings and total stockholders’ equity.

3.                How many shares of common stock have been issued and how many are outstanding? 

4.                Identify different assets/liabilities that are measured by (a) historical costs, (b) market value, (c) net realizable value, and (d) present value.

5.                Discuss three ways in which you see application of the financial reporting conceptual framework at Walmart.

6.                Through research and (where appropriate) visits to a local Walmart location, identify five internal controls activities that have been implemented to prevent misappropriation of assets or fraudulent financial reporting. Do you think these internal control activities are effective? Do they address issues surrounding fraud risk? Please provide an explanation and present suggestions to improve internal controls effectiveness in the Walmart store.

7.                Describe how Walmart could use responsibility accounting performance reports to effectively manage its more than 11,000 stores and 2 million employees. What are the basic components of these performance reports?

9)   PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills.

OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE

The final project allows you to demonstrate a grasp of the market valuation of bonds and stocks as well as how companies manage their assets and make capital budgeting decisions to generate maximum value.

You will utilize the financial reporting packages of two publicly-traded companies: AT&T and Verizon. You will complete a careful financial analysis of each company, including the development of the common size financial statements and financial ratios.

PROJECT GUIDELINES

Complete the following steps:

·        Obtain the most recent annual report for AT&T and Verizon.

·        Develop common size financial statements for the two companies for the most recent two years available.

·        Calculate financial ratios for a two-year comparison. Be sure to select financial ratios that are relevant to the telecommunication industry. A minimum of five financial ratios must be presented. The financial ratios should be calculated; do not rely upon other finance websites to obtain the general financial ratios. 

Your entire written analysis should be between 3000 and 4125 words in length (12 to 15 pages). The analysis should include the following sections for each company:

·        Company Background: Present an overview of each company’s history, including key products/services and operations. Analyze and discuss the market valuation of the bonds and stocks issued by each company. 

·        Recent Merger and Acquisition (M&A) Activities: Evaluate the effect of interest rates and time value of money by presenting a summary of recent M&A activities for both companies. Summary should include a brief discussion of the financing tools used and the cost of capital for these M&A activities.

·        Financial Statements and Common Size Statements: Evaluate and interpret each company’s basic financial statements by presenting and discussing the common size financial statements including significant trends or variances. Calculate and discuss the two years of financial ratios.

·        Overall Analysis: Evaluate each company’s performance in managing its assets to generate the maximum value to shareholders. Using the information gathered, fully discuss the ways that each company’s decision makers have considered ethical and legal concerns as well as the financial data in making policies and choosing a strategic direction. 

After assessing each company separately, develop a conclusion that includes a comparison/contrast of the financial analysis results. Evaluate and compare the financial and economic strategic planning models within each organization, indicating how each company uses financial information to support its strategic direction. Be sure you can fully support your conclusion with reference to your analysis. The conclusion itself should be at least 500 words in length (at least 2 pages), and may be longer.

PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

·        Follow accepted research approaches and citation format (APA style).

·        Convey your understanding of the readings and concepts and their application to the topic.

·        Write in an organized and coherent way.

·        Check for and correct spelling, sentence structure, and grammatical errors.

·        Demonstrate graduate-level analytical skills.