In this week’s Discussion, you will be comparing the financial statements of two companies. Please select from the following list:

1. Wal-Mart®
2. Kmart®
3. Target®
4. Carrefour Group®
5. Tesco ® plc.

To locate the financial statements, go to the Investors section of the company website and access the most recent annual report. Be sure when you are comparing the companies, the annual report selected is for the same year. Once you have made your selection, please answer the following:

1. What two companies did you choose?

2.A. What are the differences between their income statements?

2.B. What are the similarities between their income statements?

3.A. What are the differences between their balance sheets?

3.B. What are the similarities between their balance sheets?

3.C. What classifications does each one have, such as current assets, long-term or non-current assets, etc.? [Hint: Read the Unit 5 Financial Statement Supplement in Doc Sharing first. J Learn the difference between an element of the accounting equation (asset, liability, equity), a classification (a category under each element containing different specific accounts, like property plant and equipment, non-current liabilities) and specific accounts (like cash, accounts payable), and then list only classifications. Many companies don’t break down equity in to classifications, and if yours doesn’t, then just list stockholders’ equity or shareholders’ equity or whatever your company class its equity. A company might have Stockholders’ Equity and some sort of Noncontrolling interest as classifications under equity. J]

3.C.1. What classifications does your first company have on the balance sheet?

3.C.2. What classifications does your second company have on the balance sheet?

4. Locate the notes to the financial statements and highlight some of the notes you found that would be of interest to investors about each company.

4.A. Notes of interest for your first company.

4.B. Notes of interest for second company.