1. Randomly select 200 companies from the given data set and do the following analysis based on this sample of 200 companies.

2. Identify the variables and their types and scales of measurement.

3. Provide a table in which you summarise the complete descriptive statistics on stock return and firm size (including but NOT limited to measures of central location, measures of variability, coefficient of variation (where applicable), etc.).

4. Prepare two bar charts to graphically represent the frequency distribution of stock exchanges and of industries.

5. Develop tables to provide joint information on: a. Stock exchanges and average stock return. b. Different industries and average stock return.

6. Graphically demonstrate the output of Question 5.

7. Provide a scatter plot and correlation analysis for a. Stock return and firm size b. Stock return and past return c. Stock return and past trading volume What insights can be gained from these analyses?

8. Are your results consistent with the research findings in the related literature? What are your recommendations to investors in the U.S. stock market?

Note: I am providing only the data of few companies, please include formulas and methods that you use so than I can replicate with 200 companies.

PERMNO	Company name	Exchange	Stock return	Firm size	Past return	Past trading volume	Industry code	Industry name
10026	J & J SNACK FOODS CORP	3	-0.08378	3496.31500	-3.01950	315.73950	4	Manufacturing
10028	ENVELA CORP	2	-3.57143	37.69360	9.37500	3.04570	6	Wholesale Trade
10032	PLEXUS CORP	3	1.37023	2214.68614	2.65080	301.14844	4	Manufacturing
10044	ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOC FAC INC NEW	3	5.48571	52.45625	-1.44444	2.07638	4	Manufacturing
10051	HANGER INC	1	5.38168	978.25563	15.87793	148.20292	9	Services
10104	ORACLE CORP	1	-5.62879	184280.50238	3.02807	8826.57211	9	Services
10107	MICROSOFT CORP	3	4.17492	1154848.68953	5.94267	59497.48884	9	Services
10138	T ROWE PRICE GROUP INC	3	-0.77695	28873.12955	6.70120	1747.36077	8	Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
10145	HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC	1	-0.86811	127579.86933	3.89047	9676.94594	6	Wholesale Trade
10158	AMERESCO INC	1	7.03364	474.68956	10.92266	44.59953	9	Services
10180	AKORN INC	3	-58.90411	460.43291	-26.85370	91.51718	4	Manufacturing
11292	IMMUCELL CORP	3	3.00000	36.05000	-3.04252	0.73450	4	Manufacturing
11293	WESBANCO INC	3	4.44079	2482.20861	-2.95291	165.79430	8	Finance, Insurance and Real Estate
11308	COCA COLA CO	1	3.65168	228791.82594	-1.15745	12084.99173	4	Manufacturing