Week 5 - Final Paper Evaluation of Corporate Performance The Final Paper will involve applying the concepts learned in class to an analysis of a company using data from its annual report. Using the concepts from this course, you will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the company and write a report either recommending or not recommending purchase of the company stock. Research Tip: The “Mergent” database in the Ashford University Library contains company profiles and financial information for publicly traded companies and their competitors.  To access this database enter the Ashford Library and select “Find Articles and More” in the top menu panel. Next, select “Databases A-Z” and go to section “M” for “Mergent”. For help with using Mergent, use Mergent Online Quick Tips. For help with reading an annual report access this handy guide from Money Chimp. The completed report should include: · An introduction to the company, including background information.    · A complete and thorough financial statement review. · Pro Forma financial statements (Balance Sheet and Income Statement) for the next fiscal year, assuming a 10 percent growth rate in sales and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for the next year. · Complete ratio analysis for the last fiscal year using at least two ratios from each of the following categories: · Liquidity · Financial leverage · Asset management · Profitability · Market value · Debt · Per-Share · Measures of relative value (P/E, P/B) · Activity · Cash Flow · A calculation of Return on Equity (ROE) using the DuPont system. · Assessment of management performance by calculating Economic Value Added (EVA). · A synopsis of your findings, including your recommendations and rationale for whether or not to purchase stock from this company. · Evaluate the financial risks associated with operating internationally.  If your chosen company does not operate internationally, evaluate what the financial risks could be if they were to expand internationally. The paper · Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. · Must include a separate title page with the following: · Title of paper · Student’s name · Course name and number · Instructor’s name · Date submitted · Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement. · Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. · Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis. · Must use at least five scholarly sources, such as the textbook, industry reports, and articles from the Ashford University library to support your findings and recommendations. · Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. · Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. · Description: · · Total Possible Score: 20.00 · Includes an Introd.

1. Week 5 - Final Paper
Evaluation of Corporate Performance
The Final Paper will involve applying the concepts learned in
class to an analysis of a company using data from its annual
report. Using the concepts from this course, you will analyze
the strengths and weaknesses of the company and write a report
either recommending or not recommending purchase of the
company stock.
Research Tip: The “Mergent” database in the Ashford
University Library contains company profiles and financial
information for publicly traded companies and their
competitors. To access this database enter the Ashford Library
and select “Find Articles and More” in the top menu panel.
Next, select “Databases A-Z” and go to section “M” for
“Mergent”. For help with using Mergent, use Mergent Online
Quick Tips.
For help with reading an annual report access this handy
guide from Money Chimp.
The completed report should include:
· An introduction to the company, including background
information.
· A complete and thorough financial statement review.
· Pro Forma financial statements (Balance Sheet and Income
Statement) for the next fiscal year, assuming a 10 percent
growth rate in sales and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for the
next year.
· Complete ratio analysis for the last fiscal year using at least
two ratios from each of the following categories:
· Liquidity
· Financial leverage
· Asset management
· Profitability

2. · Market value
· Debt
· Per-Share
· Measures of relative value (P/E, P/B)
· Activity
· Cash Flow
· A calculation of Return on Equity (ROE) using the DuPont
system.
· Assessment of management performance by calculating
Economic Value Added (EVA).
· A synopsis of your findings, including your recommendations
and rationale for whether or not to purchase stock from this
company.
· Evaluate the financial risks associated with operating
internationally. If your chosen company does not operate
internationally, evaluate what the financial risks could be if
they were to expand internationally.
The paper
· Must be eight to ten double-spaced pages in length (not
including title and references pages) and formatted according to
APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
· Must include a separate title page with the following:
· Title of paper
· Student’s name
· Course name and number
· Instructor’s name
· Date submitted
· Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct
thesis statement.
· Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
· Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
· Must use at least five scholarly sources, such as the textbook,
industry reports, and articles from the Ashford University
library to support your findings and recommendations.
· Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the
Ashford Writing Center.

3. · Must include a separate references page that is formatted
according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
· Description:
·
· Total Possible Score: 20.00
· Includes an Introduction to the Company, With a Thorough
Financial Statement Review, and Pro forma Financial
Statements
· Total: 4.00
· Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive introduction to the
company (including background information) with a thorough
financial statement review and pro forma financial statements
for the next fiscal year. The review and pro forma financial
statements are supported with accurate calculations.
· Proficient - Provides an introduction to the company
(including background information) with a financial statement
review and pro forma financial statements for the next fiscal
year. The review and pro forma financial statements are
supported with accurate calculations, but minor details are
missing.
· Basic - Provides a limited introduction to the company
(including background information) with a financial statement
review and pro forma financial statements for the next fiscal
year. The review and pro forma financial statements are
somewhat supported with mostly accurate calculations and/or
relevant details are missing.
· Below Expectations - Attempts to provide an introduction to
the company (including background information) with a
financial statement review and pro forma financial statements
for the next fiscal year; however, the review and pro forma
financial statements are not supported with accurate
calculations and significant details are missing.
· Non-Performance - The introduction to the company, with

4. thorough financial statement review and pro forma balance
sheet and income statements for the next fiscal year, is either
nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment
instructions.
·
· Includes a Ratio Analysis and Calculates the Return on Equity
(ROE) Using the DuPont System
· Total: 4.00
· Distinguished - Includes a comprehensive ratio analysis and
calculates the ROE using the DuPont system. Each ratio
analysis and the ROE calculation are accurate and complete.
· Proficient - Includes a ratio analysis and calculates the ROE
using the DuPont system. The ratio analysis and ROE
calculation are accurate. Minor details are missing.
· Basic - Includes a limited ratio analysis and calculates the
ROE using the DuPont system. The ratio analysis and ROE
calculation are mostly accurate. Relevant details are missing.
· Below Expectations - Attempts to include a ratio analysis and
calculates the ROE using the DuPont system; however, the ratio
analysis and ROE calculation are not accurate and significant
details are missing.
· Non-Performance - The ratio analysis and calculations for
ROE using the DuPont system are either nonexistent or lack the
components described in the assignment instructions.
·
· Assesses Management Performance By Calculating the
Economic Value Added (EVA)
· Total: 3.00
· Distinguished - Comprehensively assesses management
performance by accurately calculating the EVA.
· Proficient - Assesses management performance by accurately
calculating the EVA. Minor details are missing from the
assessment.
· Basic - Partially assesses management performance by

5. calculating the EVA. Relevant details are missing from the
assessment or the EVA calculation is inaccurate.
· Below Expectations - Attempts to assess management
performance by calculating the EVA; however, the assessment
is missing significant details and the EVA calculation is
inaccurate.
· Non-Performance - The assessment of management
performance by calculating the EVA is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.
·
· Includes a Synopsis of the Findings, Including
Recommendations and Rationale for Whether or Not to Purchase
the Company’s Stock
· Total: 4.00
· Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive synopsis of the
findings, including recommendations and rationale for whether
or not to purchase the company’s stock.
· Proficient - Provides a synopsis of the findings, including
recommendations and rationale for whether or not to purchase
the company’s stock. Minor details are missing.
· Basic - Provides a partial synopsis of the findings, including
recommendations and rationale for whether or not to purchase
the company’s stock. Relevant details are missing.
· Below Expectations - Attempts to provide a synopsis of the
findings, including recommendations and rationale for whether
or not to purchase the company’s stock; however, significant
details are missing.
· Non-Performance - The synopsis of the findings, including
recommendations and rationale for whether or not to purchase
the company’s stock, is either nonexistent or lacks the
components described in the assignment instructions.
·
· Evaluates the Financial Risks Associated with Operating
Internationally

6. · Total: 3.00
· Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive evaluation of the
financial risks associated with operating internationally or the
financial risks could be if they were to expand internationally.
· Proficient - Provides a comprehensive evaluation of the
financial risks associated with operating internationally or the
financial risks could be if they were to expand internationally.
Minor details are missing.
· Basic – Partially provides a comprehensive evaluation of the
financial risks associated with operating internationally or the
financial risks could be if they were to expand internationally.
Relevant details are missing.
· Below Expectations – Attempts to provide a comprehensive
evaluation of the financial risks associated with operating
internationally or the financial risks could be if they were to
expand internationally; however, significant details are missing.
· Non-Performance – The attempt to provide a comprehensive
evaluation of the financial risks associated with operating
internationally or the financial risks could be if they were to
expand internationally, is either nonexistent or lacks the
components described in the assignment instructions.
·
· Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
· Total: 0.50
· Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and
organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and
grammar. Written work contains no errors, and is very easy to
understand.
· Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of
syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written
work contains only a few minor errors, and is mostly easy to
understand.
· Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and
mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work
contains a few errors, which may slightly distract the reader.

7. · Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of
syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written
work contains major errors, which distract the reader.
· Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
·
· Written Communication: APA Formatting
· Total: 0.50
· Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently
throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.
· Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper.
However, layout contains a few minor errors.
· Basic - Exhibits basic knowledge of APA formatting
throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA
requirements.
· Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA
formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout
difficult to distinguish as APA.
· Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.
·
· Written Communication: Page Requirement
· Total: 0.50
· Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the
required number of correctly formatted pages.
· Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the
required number of correctly formatted pages.
· Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three
quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.
· Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to
at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted
pages.
· Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.

8. ·
· Written Communication: Source Requirement
· Total: 0.50
· Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of
scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support
ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited
correctly within the body of the assignment.
· Proficient - Uses required number of scholarly sources to
support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and
cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
· Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to
support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources
on the reference page are used within the body of the
assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.
· Below Expectations - Uses inadequate number of sources that
provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be
scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used
within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted
correctly.
· Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or
lacks the components described in the instructions.