The case presents you with financial ratios for eight pairs of unidentified companies and asks youto mate the description of the company with the financial profile derived from the ratios.Maybe we can then identify the company based on the description. The primary objective of this case is to introduce you to financial ratio analysisin particular, the range of ratios and the insights each one affords.

The structured exploration of pairs of companies within an industry affords a number of important insights into strategy and financial performance. First, the economics of individual industries account for significant variations in financial ratios because of differences in technologies, product characteristics, or competitive structures. Second, financial performance results from managerial choices: within industries, the wide variation in financial ratios is often a result of the differences in corporate strategy in marketing, operations, and finance.

You do not need to report on all 16 companies.Post your company pair selection in the Discussion Forum to claim it. Do not select the same company pair as another student - this is a "first come, first served" opportunity. Company pair "O and P" is not available.Review the first post in the Discussion Forum for an example of what your research should contain.Companies O and P are an example of what you should do.

Although you do not have to research all companies, you must still review and comment upon the research of your classmates.