Project 3 Part 3:SEC EDGAR Research Analysis

Please answer the requirements in the order they are listed below by pasting your response into the Text box on the Part 2 Response Worksheet.Your analysis should be single spaced and doubled space between each requirement.I want you to use the 10-K file and not the interactive version of the 10-K to answer the requirements.I would suggest you review the additional resources I have listed after the requirements below.If you have questions do not hesitate to ask a question.

Requirements:

1. Find 3 different publicly traded companies' most recent 10-K report from the SEC EDGAR system other than Caterpillar, Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Southwest Airlines Company to demonstrate an example of each of the following types of companies: manufacturer-Caterpillar, Inc., merchandiser-Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and a service -SouthWest Airlines . The company must be an actively traded company at the present time, so if you are finding only old 10-Ks you might be looking at a company that went bankrupt, merged, or went private.Therefore, the companies you pick must be current publicly traded companies and cannot be companies that have gone private or bankrupt.Provide the URL address of each of the most current 10-K reports at the SEC EDGAR website, the CIK (Central Index Key) number for each of the companies, and the respective period of report date for each of the 10-K reports (I do not want the filing date, but the reporting date which is found on the first page of the 10-K).Read over the Quick EDGAR Tutorial under the heading Filings & Forms (EDGAR), so you have an understanding of how to use the EDGAR system if you have not used it before. http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtmlThe 10-K reports can be found at the SEC website atSearch for Company Filings, Click on Company or fund name, ticker symbol, CIK (Central Index Key), file number, state, country, or SIC (Standard Industrial Classification), Enter the company name or ticker symbol, Search for 10-K, and you pick the most recently filed 10-K report.

2.Explain why you have made the classifications for each of the 3 companies you identified in #1.Using the 10-K report, provide supporting information from the report that substantiates your classification of manufacturer, merchandiser, or a service company.Give the page numbers of the 10-K report you used to make the determination of which classification you used.

3. Compare, contrast, and explain the most recent audited income statements and explain the differences you found on the income statement in respect to how the companies report the cost of providing the product or service they sell.Explain how these costs are used to generate revenue for each of the companies.Give Dollar amounts for the costs the company is incurring to provide the product or service they sell.Give the page number of each of the income statements and be specific in your comparison by giving a description of the cost of the product or service and the dollar amounts that are being used on each of the income statements for these different costs. Make sure you are giving a detailed explanation.Additional guidance:The income statement and the statement of operations are the same thing.This is just a variation of the common term "income statement", so if your company has a statement of operations this is the income statement.You will see the word consolidated in most company's 10-K, which means that the company has controlling interest of other companies and has combined or "consolidated" all of these subsidiaries into the financial statement.Make sure you are using the audited financial statements and not just excerpts found in the annual report.

4.Compare, contrast, and explain the most recent audited balance sheets, notes to the financial statements, and identify what type of inventory accounts each of the companies are presenting or are not presenting.In your explanation, you should include a detailed discussion on why each company uses certain inventory accounts in comparison to the other companies.If a company does not have inventory, explain in detail the reason why there is no inventory accounts.What do these accounts represent and give dollar amounts of the inventory amounts?Make sure you are giving a detailed explanation of the similarities and differences you found in the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements in reference to how the companies are handling the inventory.Give the page number(s) of the balance sheets and notes you used for your comparison of each of these companies.Additional guidance:The balance sheet and the statement of financial position are the same thing.

Additional resources you might want to look at if you are having trouble using EDGAR or understanding the 10-K.

1.I would suggest everyone read this link from the SEC website-How to read a 10-K http://www.sec.gov/answers/reada10k.htm

2.Another resource for 10-K shows what the report means. http://beginnersinvest.about.com/od/annualreports/a/10k.htm

3.What is a publicly traded company?http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Publicly-Traded+Company

4.List of publicly traded companies:http://www.investorguide.com/stock-list.php