Data Analytics Assignment Instruction: Your CFO wants to invest the reserved funds in common stock with good returns. She asked you, the senior staff accountant, to analyze the following two stocks she has in mind, and recommend which stock she should invest in with the fund. These two companies are Home Depot and Lowes. Analysis Steps:

1. Go to https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/ and search for these two companies separately.

2. For each company, click on the Financials tab.

3. Copy the data for Income Statement and Balance Sheet. Ensure you have the same years statements for both companies.

4. Copy the data to your spreadsheet.

5. Create common-size statements for both companies (with the same years).

6. Do a few ratio analyses with the financial data you have on both companies. The ratio analyses should cover the four categories indicated in the textbook (p.13 or Chapter 1 PowerPoint # 21)

7. Compare the results and comment on the performance of these two companies with your common-size statements and ratio analysis results.

8. Use charts, graphs, and any visualization tools to illustrate your analyses.

9. Provide your recommendation to your CFO.

10. Use the six-steps case analysis format you have learned in Chapter One to write the case report.

The marking rubric will be on the following: Qualitative and quantitative analysis Visualization - graphs, charts, color, etc.) Presentation report with nice layouts, easy to read, and looks professional