Describe the principal product or service that each company provides, its main geographic area of activity, and the ending date of its last fiscal year.

The two companies are Macy's and Nordstrom

1. Find at least articles, again using the internet, that discuss the current situation in this industry or that present information about your companies. A.) Summarize the main points of these articles. B.) Describe the industry and its outlook and summarize the companys future plans based on your research and on reading the annual report.

2. Look up both companies stock prices and record them each day for a week. On what stock exchange are the stocks traded? What are their ticker symbols?

3. Prepare a horizontal analysis of each company using their balance sheets for the last two years. Prepare a vertical analysis (common-sized) of each company using their income statements. Make comparisons between the two companies.

Link to Balance Sheets: Macy's - http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/m/financials?query=balance-sheet

Nordstom - http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/jwn/financials?query=balance-sheet