Imagine you have $10,000 to invest in one company. Pick two publicly traded companies in the same industry (for example, Nordstrom and Macy's). Use the publicly available financial statements of these companies to compare them and determine which one you'd rather invest in. Your analysis should include at least some informed discussion of the financial statements, but you may also base your decision on any other information in the 10-K or 10-Q, such as company values or exciting new business lines. Note that if you'd like to compare companies using financial information that reflects how the business is doing during the current economic environment, you should use the most recent 10-Q. These 10-Ks and 10-Qs are typically easily found on SEC EDGAR, or on the respective company's "Investor Relations" page.