ACC 557 WEEK 10 ASSN 2 Assignment 2: You Are an Investment Analyst Due Week 10 and worth 250 points As the CFO of your corporation, you are in charge of preparing and analyzing financial statements that will be presented to potential investors and creditors. However, before you can present the financial statements to investors and creditors, you need to prepare the financial statements with supporting analysis. Select one (1) pair of the following companies to conduct your financial statement analysis. · Pepsi versus Coca Cola, or · Amazon versus eBay · Target versus Walmart · Nike versus Reebok Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you: 1. Analyze each company’s history, product / services, major customers, major suppliers, and leadership, and provide a synopsis of each company. 2. Identify three (3) profitability ratios that creditors may be interested in. Calculate the ratio for each company, and prepare a report to summarize your findings on the financial health of each company. Also, recommend to management the manner in which they can improve each of the three (3) ratios identified. 3. Summarize at least two (2) news events (this may include mergers, acquisitions, or political issues) that occurred from 2012 to the present day, and analyze the impact that these events had on each company’s financial statements. Indicate the primary way in which the merger, acquisition or political issues influence potential investors’ and creditors’ perception of both companies. 4. Analyze each company’s income statement over the past two (2) years, and determine which company outperformed the other. Suggest a way in which the lagging company can improve its income. Support your suggestion with a specific analysis. 5. Analyze each company’s balance sheet. Prepare a vertical analysis for each company, interpret the results, and write a financial report. Also, suggest the manner in which the company that is not performing well can improve its balance sheet in order for it to be attractive to potential investors. 6. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.  Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: · Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. · Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: · Prepare and analyze financial statements including the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow according to GAAP and IFRS. · Calculate financial ratios, interpret results, and draw concl.

1. ACC 557 WEEK 10 ASSN 2
Assignment 2: You Are an Investment Analyst
Due Week 10 and worth 250 points
As the CFO of your corporation, you are in charge of preparing
and analyzing financial statements that will be presented to
potential investors and creditors. However, before you can
present the financial statements to investors and creditors, you
need to prepare the financial statements with supporting
analysis. Select one (1) pair of the following companies to
conduct your financial statement analysis.
· Pepsi versus Coca Cola, or
· Amazon versus eBay
· Target versus Walmart
· Nike versus Reebok
Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you:
1. Analyze each company’s history, product / services, major
customers, major suppliers, and leadership, and provide a
synopsis of each company.
2. Identify three (3) profitability ratios that creditors may be
interested in. Calculate the ratio for each company, and prepare
a report to summarize your findings on the financial health of
each company. Also, recommend to management the manner in
which they can improve each of the three (3) ratios identified.
3. Summarize at least two (2) news events (this may include
mergers, acquisitions, or political issues) that occurred from
2012 to the present day, and analyze the impact that these
events had on each company’s financial statements. Indicate the
primary way in which the merger, acquisition or political issues
influence potential investors’ and creditors’ perception of both
companies.
4. Analyze each company’s income statement over the past two
(2) years, and determine which company outperformed the

2. other. Suggest a way in which the lagging company can improve
its income. Support your suggestion with a specific analysis.
5. Analyze each company’s balance sheet. Prepare a vertical
analysis for each company, interpret the results, and write a
financial report. Also, suggest the manner in which the company
that is not performing well can improve its balance sheet in
order for it to be attractive to potential investors.
6. Use at least four (4) quality academic resources in this
assignment. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify
as academic resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
· Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size
12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references
must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your
professor for any additional instructions.
· Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the
student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the
date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in
the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this
assignment are:
· Prepare and analyze financial statements including the balance
sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow according
to GAAP and IFRS.
· Calculate financial ratios, interpret results, and draw
conclusions.
· Use technology and information resources to research issues in
financial accounting.
· Write clearly and concisely about financial accounting using
proper writing mechanics.
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality,
logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing
skills, using the following rubric.

3. Click here to view the grading rubric
RUNNING HEADER: CLIENT DESCRIPTION 1
CLIENT DESCRIPTION 6
Client Description
Tony Menzsa
Rasmussen
B434/MAR4355 Section 01 Web Analytics - Online Plus - 2016
Winter Mid-Quarter
PART ONE
My client has a realistic budget. Unlike many people, he
realizes that this business is not cheap and is ready to spend
money. He knows that marketing is not an expense, but rather
an investment. This client does not bargain on price. He is
aware that for him to get a quality service, he has to pay well.
He understands that we are in business to make money just like
himself. My client is always willing to take advice. He is
always very eager to take unbiased advice and consults me
whenever about website strategy and this helps him in his view

4. about marketing.
Unique value proposition for the client
We provide quality services that are basically designed to meet
the needs of the client. We give a 30 days free trial to our
clients and in case you are not satisfied, we have 100% money
back guarantee.
The top three possible competitors for my client are:
CastNET.com, website: www.castnet.com
BrightSign.com, website: www.brightsign.com
MagicBox.com, website: www.magicbox.com
Web analytics is useful in tracing the origin of web traffic.
Through web analytics, one can easily determine the types of
blog spots, pages and topics that attract the most attention. It
also helps to know the day of the week that is the busiest as far
as traffic is concerned. Web analytics helps in knowing the kind
of key words that people are entering in search engines in order
to access your website. It can also help you trace how traffic is
converted to sales and where sales leads come from. Generally,
web analytics and conversion metrics information helps one
make the most of their online marketing and sales leads and
improvement of sales experience.
Basic analysis of the site for the selected client
My client wants a web site that will be used to marketing his
digital products. The first thing when developing the selected
client is to choose the domain name. The next step is to choose
a web host and signing up for an account and designing the web
pages. Having done this, next is to test the website and
collecting credit card information. The last step is to making the
social site noticed.

5. PART TWO
SWOT Analysis for my client
Strengths
The major strengths that my client has is that he has guaranteed
his customers that their money will be paid back 100% in case
the products or services are unsatisfactory and that they will be
given a 30 day free trial.
Weaknesses
The weakness that my client has is that he doesn’t have a
working site to help him in marketing at the moment.
Opportunities
In the presence of a website, my client will be able to reach a
wider base of clientele.
Threats
The main threat for my client’s business is that there are many
competitors entering the business, explaining why a site is
needed where more customers will be tapped.
SWOT Analysis for CastNet
Strengths
This competitor has a well-developed website for his business.
Weaknesses
They don’t have a 100% refund guarantee
Opportunities
They have benefited from the fact that their major competitors,
my client, has no web site.
Threats
The fact that my client is developing a website so they will be
competing on the same level.
SWOT Analysis for BrightSign.com
Strengths
Just like CastNet.com, Brightsign.com has an active website.
Weaknesses

6. This company does not have a free 30 day trial.
Opportunities
The main opportunity for this company is that they are making
use of the fact that my client oes not have a working website.
MagicBox.com SWOT Analysis
Strengths
This competitor has a well-developed website for his business.
Weaknesses
They don’t have a 100% refund guarantee
Opportunities
They have benefited from the fact that their major competitors,
my client, has no web site.
Threats
The fact that my client is developing a website so they will be
competing on the same level.
Opportunities where my client should be utilizing web analytics
tools
Opportunities such as regular tracking of sales, costs, upcoming
orders and stocks can be tapped by my client using the new
web.
Tony Menzsa
Web Analytics
Rasmuessen

7. Most essential metrics beneficial to my client
Acquisition Reporting. this helps in understanding user on
computer and mobile with detailed advertising and reports on
the sources of traffic (Google Analytics, n.d.).
Conversation reporting. This metric tool monitors and measures
conversations, downloads, the client’s sales among others. This
will help my client to modify his reporting to suit his objectives
(Google Analytics, n.d.)
Clicky. This is thought to be one of the most vigorous web
analysis tool currently since it gives real time traffic
information if the website (Oberoi, 2015)
Why would these metrics be more productive than others?
As described above, these analytics have features that the client
needs in order to improve his business.
For example, in the collection and management of data, these
metric tools provides an accurate view of the client that can be
customized to his needs(Google Analytics, n.d.)
In the analysis and reporting of data, it is easy to segment
reports and filter them to reflect the needs of the client(Google
Analytics, n.d.)
These features are rare in other sites.
Scenarios where my client can apply the metrics.
One scenario is when my client would like to understand the
users on mobile and computer applications using acquisition
reporting. He can also use this metric to identify the source of
traffic.
Another scenario is the case where the client wants to monitor
conversations, downloads, sales among others. In this case, the

8. client may be doing this to modify his reporting in order to meet
his needs
Metrics utilized by MagicBox.com
Information on the total number of people visiting the web over
a given time.
Another metric that this competitor use is the one showing the
keywords that their web visitors typed for them to access the
site.
The type of metrics that this competitor uses is data relating to
the product and which helps them to understand users and their
likely interests(magicbox , 2015)
Other metrics is the information gathered during online
applications and products done especially during the time of
activation(magicbox , 2015).
Metrics utilized by CastNET.com
Information concerning the source of traffic
Information about the sales leads for the company
They also utilize information related to the rate at which their
web visitors access, download and the conversations from the
clients.
Another metric that this competitor use is the one showing the
keywords that their web visitors typed for them to access the
site.
References
Google Analytics. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/analytics/standard/features/
MagicBox . (2015). MagicBox privacy policy. Retrieved from

9. getmagicbox.com: http://www.getmagicbox.com/privacy-policy/
Oberoi, A. (2015, August 2). Google Analytics Tools. Retrieved
from Data and Analytics.