Part 4- Please do not wait until the last day to make this paper, since you will be using the D&B Business Browser database for extensive research. This is the same database we used in Part 1.

You are hired as a consultant to make an in-depth recommendation for a high-end investor who wants to invest in either The Gap, Inc. or The TJX and Companies, Inc., which you have been researching in the financial analysis case this term. This paper gives you an opportunity to summarize your work and to assess how these companies are performing currently in comparison to each other and the industry at the same point in time.

Requirements: Save your file with the initial of your first name and last name. Upload one Word Document double-spaced by the last day of the term 11:59 PM CT. There are no late submissions accepted after the last day of the term. This assignment should be at least 7 pages and not more than 10 pages not including your cover page or reference page. You do not need a cover page, but you must include your full name at the top of the first page.

Your paper should include the following 12 sections with the headers listed below in bold in the following order. I have provided additional explanation of what is expected in each section below the section headers.

Investment Decision The investment decision section is the introduction to your paper and should explain which of the companies researched this term in the Financial Analysis Case you would recommend to make an investment. Explain why you came to this decision. Support and justify your recommendation using business terms.

Ratio Comparison Table Design a ratio comparison table to compare the two companies and the industry that the companies are part of with at least five different Ratios for each company that were discussed in class and/or the textbook that helps support your investment decision. You must use the most recent ratio information for each company and the industry provided in the D&B Hoover Business Browser. I have a generic table example set up below, but you need to update the column and row labels based on your analysis. Provide the date of the Ratio Comparison that you are referencing from D&B Hoovers Business Browser in the top right corner of your table. This information is available in the Ratio Comparison area for each company and industry in D&B Hoover Business Browser. Once at the Bellevue University Library webpage http://library.bellevue.edu/, you should click on Find click on Database and then click on D and click D&B Hoovers Business Browser. Remember the D&B Hoovers Business Browser database is located at the Bellevue University library webpage and you used this database in Part 1. You should enter the name of the company in Search for a Company, which is at the top middle part of the screen. Below is an example of a table you can use, but remember to update the labeling.

Date of Ratio Comparison from D&B	Company 1	Company 2	Industry
Ratio 1
Ratio 2
Ratio 3
Ratio 4
Ratio 5

Ratio Explanation In the ratio explanation section, explain what each of the five ratios mean. Compare and contrast the ratios to the other company and industry. Identify and explain which ratios are the most important to you in your investment decision and why.

Ratio Trend Table make a ratio trend table for each company that shows the five ratios that you used in your ratio comparison table for the past 5 years. This information is available in the Annual Ratio area for each company in D&B Hoover Business Browser.

Ratio Trend Analysis Explanation Discuss the trends in the ratios used in your analysis for both companies. Stock Price Trend Table make a stock trend table for each company that shows the year end stock price for the 5 years provided in the stock report. This information is available in the Stock Report area for each company in D&B Hoover Business Browser. Stock Price Trend Analysis Explanation Discuss the trends in the stock price for both companies. SWOT Analysis Review the complete SWOT analysis reports for each company and compare the two companies to support your recommendation. You need to make sure that you are referencing specific information from each SWOT analysis and looking at all 4 areas of the SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). I do not want you to copy and paste the SWOT analysis for each company, but discuss the specific information for each category of the SWOT analysis for each company. This information is available in the SWOT area for each company in D&B Hoover Business Browser.

Financial Journal Review In the financial journal review section, discuss the current performance by providing information from at least three different journal articles for each company that discuss the current performance of each company. The articles should not be more than 6 months old. You should use in-text citations in the paper, which normally uses the last name of the author and year. Please review: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html Conclusion In the conclusion section, summarize your investment decision using the research you have compiled in this paper. Reflection on the Financial Analysis Case In the reflection section, reflect on what you have learned in this financial analysis case and how you will be able to apply these skills to your personal and work life.

References The reference page is the last page using APA Style. You should include a reference for each article and any other references you used in your Part 4 submission. Begin the reference page on a new separate page and label this page "References" in bold, centered at the top of the page (do NOT underline or use quotation marks for the title). Remember to list authors last name in alphabetical order with hanging indents. All text should be double-spaced just like the rest of your essay. Please review: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/reference_list_basic_rules.html

Grading Rubric: 1. Develop a well thought out investment decision with supporting discussion in business terms. Worth 5 pts. 2. Develop a table that is easy to read and understand. You need to provide at least 5 ratios for each company and the applicable industry ratio for each ratio included in your table that is currently reported in D&B Business Browser. Worth 15 pts. 3. Provide an in-depth ratio analysis of the five ratios you used in the ratio comparison table. Include an explanation of ratio importance and compare the specific ratio information between the companies and the industry ratio information. Worth 10 pts. 4. Develop a ratio trend table for each company that shows the five ratios that you used in your ratio comparison table for the past 5 years. Worth 5 pts. 5. Discuss the ratio trends reported in D&B Business Browser. Worth 5 pts. 6. Develop a stock trend table for each company for the 5 years from the stock report. Worth 5 pts. 7. Discuss the stock trends reported in D&B Business Browser. Worth 5 pts. 8. Review and discuss SWOT analysis from the D&B Business Browser of both companies. Your discussion must look at all 4 areas of the SWOT for each company and provide specific information from the SWOT posted in D&B Business Browser. Worth 10 pts. 9. Each relevant article journal referenced and discussed to support your conclusion is worth 2 pt. each. You need 3 current articles for each company. Worth 12 pts. 10. Providing a conclusion with supporting resources from previous parts and industry specific information from the D&B Business Browser. Worth 10 pts. 11. Providing a well-supported reflection paragraph. Worth 8 pts. 12. Appearance and readability of paper, which includes a reference page using APA style. Make sure you include all the references you used to develop your recommendation. You will not earn any credit for this part if you have not provided a reference page using APA Style. Worth 10 pts.

**** I will deduct .5 pt. for each spelling or grammar errors.

Total points possible 100 pts.

Academic Honesty Policy: Each student is assumed to be a mature and responsible adult with high academic and moral standards. There is no place in the business profession or the classroom for dishonesty. Therefore, any student found cheating or presenting material in a dishonest fashion would earn a course grade of F.

Examples of presenting material in a dishonest fashion include but are not limited to the following:

• Using solution material that was previously posted in another class or term
• Using a case solution from a previous term and making modifications to this previous case solution
• Using a student's work from a previous or current term

You should not exchange files or solutions with your fellow classmates. You can work with class sirs on concepts, but you cannot have a sir work with you on a specific graded assignment. Remember, it does not matter what type of assignment it is, if you are found cheating you will receive an F for the course and Bellevue University will be informed of your actions for further proceedings.