You are part of a team of consultants analyzing the financial statements of Apple Inc. and Microsoft Inc. to assist investors in making decisions. You and your teammates will analyze different components of the Apple and Microsoft financial statements. You will use the contributions from your virtual teammates to address the concerns of the potential investors. The following conversation takes place in your team meeting:

Bill: Hi team, our goal is to gather data about Apple Inc. and Microsoft Inc. to provide our customers with accurate information about investing in these companies.

Sue: We need information about the company$$s assets and liabilities to ensure that they are in a stable financial position.

Bill: Right Sue, we need to know the company$$s cash and cash equivalents as well as the total current assets and liabilities. Can you get me that information as soon as possible? An investor wants to know if the company will use their money to grow or pay debt. Let$$s bring you in to take a look at the current stock and equity of the company.

Sue: Sounds good, we can always use another set of eyes.

Assignment Checklist:

What types of stock do Apple and Microsoft have, and what is the par value?

What CPA firm last audited the Apple and Microsoft financial statements?

What are the earnings per share for Apple and Microsoft in the most current year?

What dividends have Apple or Microsoft paid in the most current year?

Based on the information provided by your team members and any other relevant news articles you may find, compute the current ratio for Apple and Microsoft to use in your recommendation for investment.

Sue$$s Team Input

What data about cash and cash equivalents are shown in the consolidated balance sheet?

Apple: Cash and cash equivalents are reported at $$191,830$ million for $2020$ and $$205,898$ million for $2019.$

Microsoft: Cash and cash equivalents are reported at $$136,527$ million for $2020$ and $$133,819$ million for $2019.$

What were the total current assets and total current liabilities at September $28,2013?$

Apple: Total current assets at September $28,2020,$ $$143,713$ million; total current liabilities at September $28,2020,$ $$105,392$ million.

Microsoft: Total current assets at June $30,2020,$ $$181,915$ million; total current liabilities at June $30,2020,$ $$72,310$ million.

Your Input:

What type of stock do Apple and Microsoft have and what is the par value

Apple has common stock.

Microsoft has common stock.

What CPA firm performed the audit of the Apple and Microsoft financial statements?

Ernst & Young LLP was the CPA firm that audited Apple$$s financial statements.

Deloitte & Touche LLP was the CPA firm that audited Microsoft$$s financial statements.

What was the amount of Apple$$s earnings per share in $2020?$ What was the amount of Microsoft$$s earnings per share in $2020?$

Apple$$s basic earnings per share was $$3\mathrm{.}31,$ and its diluted earnings per share was $$3\mathrm{.}28.$

Microsoft$$s basic earnings per share was $$5\mathrm{.}82,$ and its diluted earnings per share was $$5\mathrm{.}76.$

What amount, if any, did Apple and Microsoft declare in dividends on common stock in the year ended September $28,2020$ and June $30,2020$ respectively?

According to the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders$$ Equity, Apple declared $$14,087$ in dividends and dividend equivalent.

According to the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders$$ Equity, Microsoft declared $$15,483$ in dividends and dividend equivalent.

Provide Bill, the team leader, with the checklist information. In addition, provide a written analysis $(12$ paragraphs$)$ to the potential investor that clearly states if an investment in Apple or Microsoft is a good idea.