Case Studies - Starbucks Corporation Accounting for Business Decisions

Review the 2016-2018 10-Ks (Kindly google search for 2018 annual report Starbucks Corporation Annual Report 2018 is easily available) Part 1, Items 1, 1A, 2, 3, and Part II, Items 7 and 8. Part I contains a discussion on the business model, risk factors, properties, and legal issues. Part II contains Managements Discussion and Analyses, the financial statements and the notes to the financial statements. All these statements are referred to as management assertions. Parts I and II contain discussions on many types of risk that the business may be exposed to. You should read through all these areas. You are to answer a set of questions at the end of this section of deliverables. The following narrative elaborates on each area you are to read.

Item 1A - Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described below. If any of the risks and uncertainties described in the cautionary factors described below actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations, and the trading price of our common stock could be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, we operate in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing environment. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible to predict the impact of all these factors on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

1. Economic conditions in the U.S. and international markets could adversely affect our business and financial results.

2. Our success depends substantially on the value of our brands and failure to preserve their value, either through our actions or those of our business partners, could have a negative impact on our financial results.

3. Incidents involving food or beverage-borne illnesses, tampering, adulteration, contamination or mislabeling, whether or not accurate, as well as adverse public or medical opinions about the health effects of consuming our products, could harm our business.

4. The unauthorized access, use, theft or destruction of customer or employee personal, financial or other data or of Starbucks proprietary or confidential information that is stored in our information systems or by third parties on our behalf could impact our reputation and brand and expose us to potential liability and loss of revenues.

5. We rely heavily on information technology in our operations and growth initiatives, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our ability to effectively operate and grow our business and could adversely affect our financial results.

6. We may not be successful in implementing important strategic initiatives or effectively managing growth, which may have an adverse impact on our business and financial results.

7. We face intense competition in each of our channels and markets, which could lead to reduced profitability.

8. We are highly dependent on the financial performance of our Americas operating segment.

9. We are increasingly dependent on the success of certain international markets in order to achieve our growth targets.

10. Increases in the cost of high-quality arabica coffee beans or other commodities or decreases in the availability of high quality arabica coffee beans or other commodities could have an adverse impact on our business and financial results.

11. Our financial condition and results of operations are sensitive to, and may be adversely affected by, a number of factors, many of which are largely outside our control.

12. Interruption of our supply chain could affect our ability to produce or deliver our products and could negatively impact our business and profitability.

13. Failure to meet market expectations for our financial performance and fluctuations in the stock market as a whole will likely adversely affect the market price and volatility of our stock.

14. The loss of key personnel or difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified personnel could adversely impact our business and financial results.

15. Failure to comply with applicable laws and changing legal and regulatory requirements could harm our business and financial results.

You are required to: you are to submit an individual one to two-page report answering the following from an accounting perspective, not a marketing/management perspective:

1. Of the 15 risks that Starbucks management discloses, which one do you think could most adversely affect the balance sheet and why?

2. Of the 15 risks that Starbucks management discloses, which one do you think could most adversely affect the income statement and why?

3. Of the 15 risks that Starbucks management discloses, which one do you think could most adversely affect the Cash Flow Statement and why?

4. Risk number 10 above states Increases in the cost of high-quality arabica coffee beans or other commodities or decreases in the availability of high-quality arabica coffee beans or other commodities could have an adverse impact on our business and financial results. Which ratios would be adversely affected if increases in cost or supply chain disruptions occurred for arabica beans? Explain why.

5. Compare your readings of managements assertions and your findings of your vertical, horizontal, ratio and chart analysis. Discrepancies may exist between what the ratios are indicating and what management is telling you. Is management telling the public one thing, but the financial information indicates another? Explain to the best of your ability.