Which company was the most appealing to you from the perspective of a potential investor and why you felt that way.

Company 1$1$:

This is a very small and new company comprised of about 20$20$ scientists working on bio−$-$pharmacological studies into new drugs that might treat various forms of cancer. They are desperately seeking investments just to help keep their labs open, while working to attract and retain a highly−$-$skilled staff of researchers.

Company 2$2$:

This is a well−$-$established nationwide hardware company with approximately 850$850$ locations throughout the country. This company has almost universal brand−$-$name recognition and is frequently the first hardware company that comes to mind when people think of the industry.

Company 3$3$:

This is a retail department store company that has recently decided to close several stores that were losing money. The company once had a sterling brand reputation and is still well−$-$known, but is also recognized for not being as strong as it once was.