Benchmarks. Analyze Nike's performance relative to the industry. You will be expected to find one peer company that operates in the industry of your chosen company and perform a side- by-side analysis of the same ratios.

Use this section to present your findings based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of the financial statements. Include a copy of the financial statements and any ratios or analysis in an appendix as support for your discussion. In particular, this section should cover:

f) Benchmarks. Analyze the company's performance relative to the industry average. The average should refer to the same period as the financial statements being analyzed (or as close as possible). Specifically, you should answer:

1. Why is benchmarking important in analyzing financial statements and evaluating a company's overall performance? In other words, does analyzing a specific company's financial statements in isolation provide you with sufficient information for analyzing its overall performance? Why or why not?
2. What do benchmarking comparisons tell you about how Nike is performing relative to industry peers? Support your answer with specific examples from your analysis and industry research.
3. How does Nike's financial statements compare to industry standards in terms of legally and ethically communicating necessary information to stakeholders? Justify your response using specific examples and referencing relevant legal and ethical guidelines.