You are now going to do your second corporate comparison of two companies (through their 10-k's) in the same industry. It shouldnt be too hard to come to a consensus of which is best. One company shows constant growth in sales, earnings and market share. One company has had go into Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has remained marginally profitable because of massive government subsidies. When you compare income statements try to determine what one company is doing right and the other company is not doing as well. You are looking for best practices as a potential employee, manager, lender or investor. Finance is not absolute. It requires you to make rational judgments about future growth, risk, etc. The corporate comparisons will become closer as the weeks evolve. The experience and skill you gain analyzing these companies will be refined in the comparisons that follow. Again, it should not be difficult to arrive at consensus among yourselves as to which corporation is better. Try to list as many reasons as possible.

Go to the SEC website (Links to an external site.). Go to the Filings tab: Company Filings Search. In the Company name box enter Continental Airlines and search. Select Continental Airlines /DE/. In the Form Type box enter 10-K and search. Select the 10-K for 2005 filing date (not amended). Select: Document 1 file: f200410k031505.htm

Go to the SEC website (Links to an external site.). Go to the Filings tab: Company Filings Search. In the Company name box enter Southwest Airlines and search. In the Form Type box enter 10-K and search. Select the 10-K/A for 2005 filing date. Select Document d21965e10vk.htm

Congratulations you have just arrived at Continental Airlines and Southwest Airlines 10-K filings of the 2004 annual reports!

Both of these companies are listed SIC 4512 Air Transportation, Scheduled.

They have comparable products yet their financial results are significantly different.

Read both 10-K filings then compare, contrast and comment on their differences.

Give original comparative comments on one of the different aspects listed above and make a relevant substantive response to at least two other students' comments.

Give your opinion as to the reason for the difference in results. As a class, attempt to arrive at a consensus of which company would be better to work for and invest in.

You will have to go the SEC website to find relevant information. The instructions to find the files are above.

"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/92380/000095013405002093/d21965e10vk.htm"

"https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/319687/000031968705000036/f200410k031505.htm#Business"

I am starting to think that the questions are not read fully when experts try to answer them. You have to go to the above site, the SEC site to get the information. I can't post 160 plus pages of 10-K statements.

To the anonymous person:

If you do not want to answer the question because you may have to look outside of this page then do not comment on or say the question needs more information and move on. Read the (colorful four letter word) question first. What do you think, we are trying to hide information from you? Or maybe, we give you all of the information that we have available, exactly how we get it!!!!!