Question 2

1. Kathys equity portfolio invested 55% in the Technology sector, 32% in the Mining & Resources sector, and 13% in the Consumer Staples industry, such as businesses selling food and groceries, etc. The stock market has experienced a boom for the past several months; however, recent economic data suggests that the economy is slowing down, and it may head towards a recession within a year. Kathy asked you for investment advice.

1. Using your knowledge of sector rotation strategies, will you advise Kathy to change her current portfolio holdings? Why or why not? Briefly discuss your answer with justifications.
2. Suggest two sectors in which Kathy may invest to get better returns in the forecasted economic condition. Explain your answers with justifications.

2. JB Hi-Fi (JBH) and Kogan (KGN) are two ASX listed retail businesses from Consumer Discretionary sector. The following table provides the time series of key financial ratios for these two companies.

		JBH			KGN
Ratios	2019	2020	2021	2019	2020	2021
Net Profit Margin	3.52%	3.99%	5.76%	3.98%	5.45%	0.56%
EBIT Margin	5.27%	6.37%	8.44%	5.50%	8.05%	1.67%
ROE	23.92%	28.60%	39.26%	33.74%	16.35%	2.40%
ROA	10.19%	10.84%	16.31%	14.88%	9.78%	1.14%
Asset Turnover	2.78	2.51	2.74	3.65	1.76	1.76
Inventory Turnover	8.00	10.71	9.50	5.70	4.36	3.40
Debt to Equity Ratio (D/E)	42.06%	67.07%	48.25%	2.45%	1.49%	51.10%
Current Ratio	1.38	0.93	1.07	1.68	2.32	2.04
Quick Ratio	0.42	0.38	0.38	0.52	1.34	0.63
Price/Book Value	2.84	4.47	4.44	8.73	9.29	6.83
Days Receivables	3.34	2.68	2.36	4.10	3.85	2.39
Days Inventory	45.61	34.08	38.43	64.00	83.73	107.27

Based on the ratios provided in the table above, compare and comment on the tends of

1. Profitability
2. Asset Management (or Asset Utilisation)
3. Short term liquidity

for JB Hi Fi and Kogan. Justify your comments based on the ratios provided.

((2+2 = 4) + (2+2+2 = 6) = 10 Marks)