JASON: Do you have 10 or 15 minutes that you can spare? YoU: Sure, I've got a meeting in an hour, but I don't want to start something new and then be interrupted by the meeting, so how can I help? JASON: I've been reviewing the company's financial statements and looking for ways to improve our performance, In general, and the company's return on equity, or ROE, In particular. Anja, my new team leader, suggested that I start by using a DuPont analysis, and I'd like to run my numbers and conclusions by you to see whether I've missed anything. Here are the balance sheet and income statement data that Anja gave me, and here are my notes with my calculations, Could you start by making sure that my numbers are correct? YOU: Give me a minute to look at these financial statements and to remember what I know about the Dupont analysis. If I remember correctly, the Dufont equation breaks down our ROE into three component ratios: the the total asset turnover ratio, and the And, according to my understanding of the. Dupont equation and its calculation of RoE, the three ratios provide insights into the company's effectiveness in using the company's assets, and Now, let's see your notes with your ratios, and then we can talk about possible strategies that will improve the ratios. I'm going to check, the box to the side of your calculated value if your calculation is correct and leave it unchecked if your celculation is incorrect. Cepeus Manufacturing Inc, DuPont Analysis JASON: OK, it looks ike IVe got a couple of incorrect values, so show me your calculetions, and then we can talk strategies for improveimant. VoU: LVe just made rough calculations; so lat me complete this table by inputting the compocents of each cabe and its value: Do not round intermediate calculations and round your final answers up to two decimals. Cepeus Manufacturing Inc. DuPont Analysis JASON: I see what I did wrong in my computations. Thanks for reviewing these caiculations with me, You saved me from a lot of embarrassmentl Anja would have been very disappointed in me if I had showed her my original work. So, now let's switch topics and identify general strategies that could be used to positively affect Cepeus's ROE. YOU: OK, so given your knowledge of the component ratios used in the DuPont equation, which of the following strategles should improve the company's ROE? Check all that apply. Use more debt financing in its capital structure and increase the equity multiplier. Decrease the amount of debt financing used by the company, which will dacrease the total assets turnover ratio. Increase the firm's bottom-line profitability for the same volume of sales, which will increase the compary's net profit margin. Reduce the company's operating expenses, its cost of goods sold, and/or the interest rate on its borrowed funds because this will increas the company's net profit margin. JASON: I think I understand now. Thanks for taking the time to go over this with me, and let me know when I can return the fovor
