Assessment Goal:

Assess the students' ability to interpret and analyze financial statements, and make a presentation to the boss and colleagues.

Scenario:

You graduated Summa Cum Laude with a MS in Accounting and Financial Management from a state university.Your role is to be a financial analyst for a large brokerage firm.Your boss (professor) asks you to make a financial analysis for two retail companies.Your analysis will be part of a company-wide analysis of the retail business sector in the US.You will present your analyses to your boss and colleagues.

Steps to Completion:

Selectany two U.S. corporation that is listed on the NYSE in the retail sector.ClickEdgarto search for the SEC filings of your chosen retail corporations.Download and review the SEC Form 10-K for the most recent year.

Perform:

• Horizontal and vertical financial statement analysis in Excel (using formulas)
• Ratio analysis in Excel (using formulas)