Question: AK Steel is an integrated manufacturer of

> Texas Instruments (TI) designs and manufactures semiconductor products for use in computers, telecommunications equipment, automobiles, and other electronics-based products. The manufacturing of semiconductors is highly capital-intensive. Hewlett-Packard

> Nucor and AK Steel are steel manufacturers. Nucor produces steel in mini-mills. Mini-mills transform scrap ferrous metals into standard sizes of rolled steel, which Nucor then sells to steel service centers and distributors. Its steel falls on the lower

> Dell produces computers and related equipment on a made-to-order basis for consumers and businesses. Sun Microsystems designs and manufactures higher-end computers that function as servers and for use in computer-aided design. Sun Microsystems sells prim

> Three years of combined data for two firms follows (in millions). One of these firms is FedEx, a relatively high-growth firm that provides courier services, and the other is Kellogg Company, a more mature consumer foods processor. Identify each firm and

> Recent years have witnessed some of the most significant accounting scandals in history. For each scandal listed in Exhibit 6.17, identify how balance sheet quality and earnings quality were impaired. Exhibit 6.17 Accounting Scandals (Problem 6.17)

> Access the investor relations or corporate information section of the websites of American Airlines (www.aa.com), Intel (www.intel.com), and Disney (http://disney.com). Study the business strategies of each firm. Examine the financial ratios below and in

> The Apollo Group is one of the largest providers of private education, and runs numerous programs and services, including the University of Phoenix. Exhibit 3.25 provides the statement of cash flows for 2012. REQUIRED Discuss the relations between net i

> Montgomery Ward operates a retail department store chain. It filed for bankruptcy during the first quarter of Year 12. Exhibit 3.24 presents a statement of cash flows for Montgomery Ward for Year 7 to Year 11. The firm acquired Lechmere, a discount reta

> Sunbeam Corporation manufactures and sells a variety of small household appliances, including toasters, food processors, and waffle grills. Exhibit 3.23 presents a statement of cash flows for Sunbeam for Year 5, Year 6, and Year 7. After experiencing dec

> Sirius XM Radio Inc. is a satellite radio company, formed from the merger of Sirius and XM in 2008. Exhibit 3.22 presents a statement of cash flows for Sirius XM Radio for 2006, 2007, and 2008. Sirius XM and its predecessor, Sirius, realized revenue grow

> Exhibits 7.17 and 7.18 provide footnote excerpts to the financial reports of The Coca-Cola Company and Eli Lilly and Company that discuss the stock option grants given to the employees of the two firms. Each firm uses options extensively to reward employ

> How are balance sheet quality and earnings quality related? Provide a specific example of a management judgment, estimate, or choice that could decrease both balance sheet and earnings quality. Be specific as to how the judgment decreased quality in each

> Refer to the projected financial statements for Massachusetts Stove Company (MSC) prepared for Case 10.2. The management of MSC wants to know the equity valuation implications of not adding gas stoves versus adding gas stoves under the best, most likely,

> Abercrombie & Fitch sells casual apparel and personal care products for men, women, and children through retail stores located primarily in shopping malls. Its fiscal year ends January 31 of each year. Financial statements for Abercrombie & Fitch

> An equity buyout group intends to acquire Wedgewood as of the beginning of Year 8. The buyout group intends to finance 40% of the acquisition price with debt bearing a 10% interest rate and 60% with common equity. The income tax rate is 40%. The cost of

> At the end of Year 5, Experian Information Solutions, Inc. (Experian) has total assets of $555,443, long-term debt of $1,839, and common equity at book value of $402,759 (amounts in thousands). Suppose an equity buyout group is planning to acquire Experi

> Henry Company is a marketer of branded foods to retail and foodservice channels. Exhibit 6.18 presents Henry’s income statements for Year 10, Year 11, and Year 12. Notes to the financial statements reveal the following information: 1. G

> May Department Stores Company (May) operates retail department store chains throughout the United States. Assume that at the end of Year 2, May’s balance sheet reports debt of $4,658 million and common shareholders’ equity at book value of $3,923 million

> Explain why analysts and investors use risk adjusted expected rates of return as discount rates in valuation. Why do investors expect rates of return to increase with risk?

> At a cost of $200,000, Assume In-N-Out Burger acquired a tract of land for a restaurant site. It paid attorneys $7,500 to conduct a title search and to prepare the required legal documents for the purchase. State real estate transfer taxes totaled $2,500

> Conceptually, why should an analyst expect the dividends-based valuation approach to yield equivalent value estimates to the valuation approach that is based on free cash flows available to be distributed to common equity shareholders?

> Explain the theory behind the dividends-based valuation approach. Why are dividends value-relevant to common equity shareholders?

> The chapter describes how the dividends-based valuation approach measures value-relevant dividends to encompass various transactions between the firm and the common shareholders. What transactions should you include in value relevant dividends for the pu

> The chapter asserts that dividends are value relevant even though the firm’s dividend policy is irrelevant. How can that be true? What is the key assumption in the theory of dividend policy irrelevance?

> Hasbro is a leading firm in the toy, game, and amusement industry. Its promoted brands group includes products from Playskool, Tonka, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Tiger, and Wizards of the Coast. Sales of toys and games are highly variable from year

> Three years of combined data for two firms follows (in millions). The two firms experienced similar growth rates in revenues during the three-year period. One of these firms is Accenture Ltd., a management consulting firm, and the other is Southwest Airl

> Why is the dividends based valuation approach applicable to firms that do not pay periodic (quarterly or annual) dividends?

> Why do investors typically accept a lower risk-adjusted rate of return on debt capital than equity capital? Suppose a stable, financially healthy, profitable, tax-paying firm that has been financed with all equity now decides to add a reasonable amount o

> Identify the types of firm-specific factors that increase a firm’s non diversifiable risk (systematic risk). Identify the types of firm-specific factors that increase a firm’s diversifiable risk (nonsystematic risk). Why do models of risk-adjusted expect

> Empirical research cited in the text indicates that firms with an operating cash flow to current liabilities ratio exceeding 0.40 portray low short-term liquidity risk. Similarly, firms with an operating cash flow to total liabilities ratio exceeding 20%

> The CAPM computes expected rates of return using the following model: E[REj] = E[RF] + βj × {E[RM] – E[RF]} Explain the role of each of the three components of this model.

> Royal Dutch Shell is a petroleum and petrochemicals company. It engages primarily in the exploration, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas and the manufacture, transportation, and sale of petroleum and petrochemical products. The company ope

> Whirlpool manufactures and sells home appliances under various brand names. IBM develops and manufactures computer hardware and offers related technology services. Target operates a chain of general merchandise discount retail stores. The data in the fol

> Refer to Problem 2.12. Assume that Walmart has accounted for the value of the land at acquisition cost and sells the land on December 31, 2011, for a two-year note receivable with a present value of $180,000 instead of for cash. The note bears interest a

> The data in Exhibit 11.3 on industry median betas suggest that firms in the following three sets of related industries have different degrees of systematic risk. Median Beta during 2003–2012 Utilities versus Petroleum and Natural Gas..............

> Problem 10.16 projected financial statements for Walmart for Years +1 through +5. The following data for Walmart include the actual amounts for 2012 and the projected amounts for Years þ1 through +5 for comprehensive income and common shar

> Selected data for The Hershey Company for 2010–2012 appear in Exhibit 4.29. REQUIRED a. Compute ROA and its decomposition for 2010–2012. Assume a tax rate of 35%. b. Compute ROCE and its decomposition for 2010â&

> Refer to the financial statement forecasts for Massachusetts Stove Company (MSC) prepared for Case 10.2. The management of MSC wants to know the equity valuation implications of adding gas stoves under the best, most likely, and worst-case scenarios. Fi

> Suppose you are analyzing a firm that is successfully executing a strategy that differentiates its products from those of its competitors. Because of this strategy, you project that next year the firm will generate 6.0% revenue growth from price increase

> Suppose a firm has generated 10.25% revenue growth in the past two years, consisting of 5.0% growth in sales volume compounded with 5.0% growth in prices. Describe one firm-specific strategic factor, one industry-specific factor, and one economy-wide fac

> The chapter encourages analysts to develop forecasts that are realistic, objective, and unbiased. Some firms’ managers tend to be optimistic. Some accounting principles tend to be conservative. Describe the different risks and incentives that managers, a

> Suppose an analyst reformulates financial statements to prepare the alternative decomposition of ROCE for a firm with no debt. The analyst determines that the company holds excess cash as large marketable equity securities. The result will be net financi

> The chapter states that forecasts of financial statements should rely on the additivity within financial statements and the articulation across financial statements to avoid internal inconsistencies in forecasts. Explain how the concepts of additivity an

> For this exercise, use the preceding data for Schwartz Company. Now assume that Schwartz pays common shareholders a dividend of $25 in Year +1. Also assume that Schwartz uses long-term debt as a flexible financial account, increasing borrowing when it ne

> The following data for Schwartz Company represent a summary of your first-iteration forecast amounts for Year +1. Schwartz uses dividends as a flexible financial account. Compute the amount of dividends you can assume that Schwartz will pay in order to b

> The chapter describes how firms must use flexible financial accounts to maintain equality between assets and claims on assets from liabilities and equities. Chapter 1 describes how some firms progress through different life-cycle stages—from introduction

> Assume Walmart acquires a tract of land on January 1, 2009, for $100,000 cash. On December 31, 2009, the current market value of the land is $150,000. On December 31, 2010, the current market value of the land is $120,000. The firm sells the land on Dece

> Effective financial statement analysis requires an understanding of a firm’s economic characteristics. The relations between various financial statement items provide evidence of many of these economic characteristics. Exhibit 1.24 pres

> Use the following hypothetical data for Walgreens in Years 11 and 12 to project revenues, cost of goods sold, and inventory for Year þ1. Assume that Walgreens’s Year þ1 revenue growth rate, gross profit mar

> Intel is a global leader in manufacturing microprocessors, which is very capital-intensive. The production processes in microprocessor manufacturing require sophisticated technology, and the technology changes rapidly, particularly with each new generati

> The Home Depot is a leading specialty retailer of hardware and home improvement products and is the second-largest retail store chain in the United States. It operates large warehouse-style stores. Despite declining sales and difficult economic condition

> Walmart Stores, Inc. (Walmart) is the largest retailing firm in the world. Building on a base of discount stores, Walmart has expanded into warehouse clubs and Supercenters, which sell traditional discount store items and grocery products. Exhibits 10.11

> Effective financial statement analysis requires an understanding of a firm’s economic characteristics. The relations between various financial statement items provide evidence of many of these economic characteristics. Exhibit 1.23 (pag

> Partial forecasts of financial statements for Watson Corporation appear in Exhibit 10.8 (income statement), Exhibit 10.9 (balance sheet), and Exhibit 10.10 (statement of cash flows). Selected amounts have been omitted, as have all totals (indicated by XX

> Barnes & Noble sells books, magazines, music, and videos through retail stores and online. For a retailer like Barnes & Noble, inventory is a critical element of the business, and it is necessary to carry a wide array of titles. Inventories const

> Hasbro designs, manufactures, and markets toys and games for children and adults in the United States and in international markets. Hasbro’s portfolio of brands and products contains some of the most well-known toys and games under famo

> Sony Corporation manufactures and markets consumer electronics products. Assume the following are selected income statement data for 20X1 and 20X2 (amounts in billions of yen): REQUIRED a. Estimate the variable cost as a percentage of sales for the cost

> Visa Inc., a credit card company, reported income tax expense of $1,648 million for Year 1, comprising $1,346 million of current taxes and $302 million of deferred taxes. The balance sheet showed income taxes payable of $122 million at the beginning of Y

> Software companies often bundle upgrades and technical support services with their software. Assume that a software company promises to automatically deliver upgrades for two years when a customer purchases software costing $100. Describe how the softwar

> Using the analytical framework, indicate the effect of each of the three independent sets of transactions described next. (1) a. January 15, 2014: Purchased marketable equity securities for $100,000. b. December 31, 2014: Revalued the marketable securi

> The notes to a firm’s financial statements reveal that the obligations for postretirement health care benefits at the end of 2014 total $2.1 billion. The fair value of plan assets for these benefits at the end of 2014 is reported at zero, with an unrecog

> Pension expense typically consists of five components. Answer the following questions related to each component. a. Service cost: Is it possible for the service cost component to reduce pension expense for the year? Explain your answer. b. Interest cost:

> Using the following key, identify the effects of the following transactions or conditions on the various financial statement elements: I ¼ increases; D ¼ decreases; NE ¼ no effect. Note that the questions per

> Given the following information, compute December 31, 2014, projected benefit obligation (PBO) and fair market value (FMV) of plan assets for Lee Company. What amount of asset or liability will be reported on the balance sheet at December 31, 2014? Pri

> Obtain the latest Form 10-K for Facebook, Inc. (www.investor.fb.com). Locate and describe the significant risks the company identifies. Are any of these unexpected based on your previous familiarity with the company?

> The weighted-average cost-flow assumption is a common technique used to value inventory and determine cost of goods sold. It falls between LIFO and FIFO as to the differential effect on inventory and cost of goods sold amounts, although normally it is mo

> What is a LIFO layer liquidation? How does it affect the prediction of future earnings?

> The acquisition cost of inventory remaining at the end of a period is measured using LIFO, FIFO, or average cost. a. Rank cost of goods sold, gross profit, and ending inventory from highest to lowest under the three cost-flow assumptions when input price

> Assume Boeing sold a 767 aircraft to American Airlines on January 1, 2009. The sales agreement required American Airlines to pay $10 million immediately and $10 million on December 31 of each year for 20 years, beginning on December 31, 2009. Boeing and

> Using the following key, identify the effects of the following transactions or conditions on the various financial statement elements: I ¼ increases; D ¼ decreases; NE ¼ no effect. Assets Liabilities Shareh

> Provide three examples of expense recognition justified by (a) A direct relation with revenue (cause and effect) and (b) An indirect relation with revenue (the consumption of an asset or an increase in a liability during a period in which revenue is re

> Identify the working capital accounts related to (a) Revenues recognized and deferred, (b) Cost of goods sold, (c) Employee salary and wages, and (d) Income tax expense. For each account, indicate whether an increase in the working capital asset or l

> Using the analytical framework, indicate the effect of the following related transactions of a firm. a. January 1: Issued 10,000 shares of common stock for $50,000. b. January 1: Acquired a building costing $35,000, paying $5,000 in cash and borrowing th

> Apply the economic attributes framework discussed in the chapter to the specialty retailing apparel industry, which includes such firms as Gap, Limited Brands, and Abercrombie & Fitch. (Hint: Access Gale’s Business & Company Resource Center, Global Busin

> Three alternative revenue recognition methods are available to long-term contractors when cash inflows are probable: percentage of completion, completed contract, and cost recovery. Assuming that the contract price is known, discuss the appropriate metho

> Revenues are at the core of a firm’s ability to grow and prosper; thus, they are central to the analysis of a firm’s profitability. Although the time-of-sale method is the most common technique employed to recognize revenues, in some instances, a strong

> Altman’s bankruptcy risk model utilizes the values of the variables at a particular point in time (balance sheet variables) or for a period of time (income statement values). An alternative would be to use changes in balance sheet or income statement amo

> Canadian National Railway Company (CN) spans Canada and mid-America and provides freight transport services from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and to the Gulf of Mexico. It is currently the largest private rail system in Canada and was privatiz

> Sanders Company is a technology consultancy firm. Sanders disclosures in a recent Form 10-K filing provided an extensive discussion of its revenue recognition policies, excerpts of which follow: We recognize revenue from the provision of professional ser

> Lowe’s Companies, a retailer of home improvement products, reported cost of goods sold of $31,729 million for Year 1. It reported merchandise inventories of $7,611 million at the beginning of Year 1 and $8,209 million at the end of Year 1. It reported ac

> DataTech (DT) is a software manufacturer. It develops, markets, and supports software that helps manufacturers improve the competitiveness of their products. DT provides a detailed description of its revenue streams in its SEC 10-K filing, excerpts of wh

> Discuss when each of the following types of businesses is likely to recognize revenues and expenses. a. A bank lends money for home mortgages. b. A travel agency books hotels, transportation, and similar services for customers and earns a commission from

> Excerpts from the disclosures on derivatives made by a large beverage manufacturer in Year 4 appear below: Our Company uses derivative financial instruments primarily to reduce our exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange r

> Kentucky Gold (KG) holds 10,000 gallons of whiskey in inventory on October 31, 2013, that costs $225 per gallon. KG contemplates selling the whiskey on March 31, 2014, when it completes the aging process. Uncertainty about the selling price of whiskey on

> Lynn Construction enters into a firm purchase commitment for equipment to be delivered on June 30, 2013, for a price of 10,000 GBP. It simultaneously signs a forward foreign exchange contract for 10,000 GBP. The forward rate on June 30, 2013, for settlem

> The following information relates to a firm’s pension plan. Prior service cost due to 2013 amendment................ $ 60,000 PBO, January 1, 2013................................................ 1,000,000 FMV, January 1, 2013.............................

> Market equity beta measures the covariability of a firm’s returns with all shares traded on the market (in excess of the risk-free interest rate). We refer to the degree of covariability as systematic risk. The market prices securities so that the expect

> A large manufacturer of truck and car tires recently changed its cost flow assumption method for inventories at the beginning of 2014. The manufacturer has been in operation for almost 40 years, and for the last decade it has reported moderate growth in

> Deere & Company manufactures agricultural and industrial equipment and provides financing services for its independent dealers and their retail customers. In Note 2 to its October 31, 2012, 10K, Deere discloses the following revenue recognition policy: S

> On January 1, 2014, assume that Turner Construction Company agreed to construct an observatory for Dartmouth College for $120 million. Dartmouth College must pay $30 million upon signing and $30 million at the end of 2014, 2015, and 2016. Expected constr

> Caterpillar manufactures heavy machinery and equipment and provides financing for purchases by its customers. Caterpillar reported sales and interest revenues of $51,324 million for Year 1. The balance sheet showed current and noncurrent receivables of $

> Assume that a company needs to acquire a large special-purpose materials handling facility. Given that no outside vendor exists for this type of facility and that the company has available engineering, management, and productive capacity, the company bor

> The three types of costs incurred in oil production are acquisition costs (costs to acquire the oil fields, minus the cost of the land, plus the present value of future cash flows necessary to restore the site), exploration costs (costs of drilling), and

> When a firm incurs costs on an item to be used in operations, management must decide whether to treat the cost as an asset or an expense. Assume that a company used cash to acquire machinery expected to contribute to the generation of revenues over a thr

> Identify the exchange rates used to translate income statement and balance sheet items when the foreign currency is defined as the functional currency. Discuss the logic for the use of the exchange rates you identified.

> Choosing the functional currency is a key decision for translating the financial statements of foreign entities of U.S. firms into U.S. dollars. Qing Corporation, a U.S. firm that sells car batteries, formed a wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico to manufac

> Some accounting theorists propose that firms should consolidate any entity in which they have a ‘‘controlling financial interest.’’ Typically, the percentage of equity ownership that one firm has in another entity determines whether consolidation is appr

> Prepaid Legal Services (PPD) is a company that sells insurance for legal expenses. Customers pay premiums in advance for coverage over some specified period. Thus, PPD obtains cash but has unearned revenue until the passage of time over the specified per

> Altman’s bankruptcy prediction model places a coefficient of 3.3 on the earnings before interest and taxes divided by total assets variable but a coefficient of only 1.0 on the sales to total assets variable. Does this mean that the earnings variable is

> U.S. GAAP requires firms to account for equity investments in which ownership is between 20% and 50% using the equity method. Ace Corporation owns 35% of Spear Corporation during 2014. Spear Corporation reported net income of $100.4 million for 2014 and