Meri whether Chemicals experienced an increase in its accounts receivable balance for the year just ended. This will be reported as a use of cash in the firm’s cash flow statement. How is it that an increase in an asset such as accounts receivable represents a use of cash?
> Describe the information contained in Figure 7.2, identifying which securities have performed the best over long periods of time. Some investors with long investment time horizons invest exclusively in bonds. Why do you think that is so? Figure 7.2:
> Describe the five-step process used to calculate the variance in the rate of return for an investment.
> Why is the volatility or variance in an investment’s rate of return a reasonable indication of the risk of the investment?
> Describe the concept of an expected rate of return as if you were explaining it to your 10-year-old niece.
> How does the expected rate of return concept differ from that of the realized rate of return?
> How do cash dividends affect the realized rate of return from investing in shares of common stock?
> Describe the concept of a realized rate of return as if you were explaining it to your grandfather, who has never had a finance class.
> What is the “behavioral view” of market efficiency?
> Visible Fences is introducing a new product and has an expected change in net operating income of $900,000. The company has a 34 percent marginal tax rate. This project will also produce $300,000 of depreciation per year. In addition, this project will c
> Compare and contrast the notions of weak-form, semi-strong-form, and strong-form market efficiency.
> What is the efficient markets hypothesis? Explain this concept in your own words.
> What is your tolerance for risk? Take the risk tolerance quiz referenced in Finance for Life: Determining Your Tolerance for Risk on page 206 and found at the website www.rce.rutgers.edu/money/riskquiz.
> Under what circumstances would you prefer to use the geometric average rate of return as opposed to the arithmetic average rate of return?
> What is the relationship between the geometric average rate of return and compound interest?
> What can you conclude about the relative risk of investing in the United States versus Japan from Figure 7.4? Figure 7.4: 50.00% | Compound annual rate of return | Standard Diviation 45.00% 40.00% Developed Markets Emerging Markets 35.00% 28.71% 3
> What does Figure 7.4 tell us about how the U.S. stock market has performed when compared to all the alternatives included in the figure over the period 1988–2015? Figure 7.4: 50.00% | Compound annual rate of return | Standard Divi
> In Regardless of Your Major: Using Statistics on page 194, we note that statisticians analyze data. Moreover, in your statistics class you learned how to describe random outcomes using statistical measures such as expected value and variance. How does ou
> How do you calculate the present value of an annuity? A perpetuity? A growing perpetuity?
> What is a level perpetuity? A growing perpetuity?
> Faraway Fabricators, Inc., is considering the expansion of its welding and stamping division and estimates that this will require the firm’s accounts receivable to increase by 12 percent of the added sales. Moreover, Faraway estimates t
> Distinguish between an ordinary annuity and an annuity due.
> Assume you bought a home and took out a 30-year mortgage on it 10 years ago. How would you determine how much principal on your mortgage you still have to pay off?
> What is the relationship between the present value interest factor (from Chapter 5) and the annuity present value interest factor (from Equation [6–2])?
> How do you calculate the future value of an annuity?
> What is an annuity? Give some examples of annuities.
> In the Payday Loans feature on page 129, we examined these short-term, high-interest loans. Go to the Responsible Lending Organization website at www. responsiblelending.org/payday-lending/. What are some of their concerns about payday and other small do
> Compare some of the different financial calculators that are available on the Internet. Look at Kiplinger Online calculators (www.kiplinger.com/tools/index.html), which include how much you need to retire, the value of boosting your 401(k) contributions
> How would an increase in the interest rate (i) or a decrease in the number of periods until the payment is received (n) affect the present value (PV) of a sum of money?
> How would an increase in the interest rate (i) or a decrease in the number of periods (n) affect the future value (FVn) of a sum of money?
> What is the relationship between the number of times interest is compounded per year on an investment and the future value of that investment? What is the relationship between the number of times compounding occurs per year and the EAR?
> Morten Food Products, Inc., is a regional manufacturer of salty food snacks. The firm competes directly with the national brands including Frito-Lay—but only in the southeastern part of the United States. Next year Morten expects total revenues of $300 m
> What is the time value of money? Give three examples of how the time value of money might take on importance in business decisions.
> What can we learn about a firm from its price-earnings ratio and market-to-book ratio?
> What is the DuPont system of financial statement analysis, and how is it applied to the analysis of a company’s return on equity?
> What are the two determinants of a firm’s operating return on assets?
> What are the differences among gross profit margin, operating profit margin, and net profit margin?
> What two ratios are typically used to measure how a firm has financed its assets (i.e., its capital structure)?
> What does the term liquidity mean in the context of a firm’s financial condition, and what financial ratios can the analyst use to assess liquidity?
> List and describe the five basic questions used to discuss financial statement analysis.
> What are common-size financial statements, how are they constructed, and why are they useful to the financial analyst?
> In Finance in a Flat World on page 105, we noted that differences in accounting standards around the world can influence financial ratios. Describe how differences in the way goodwill is treated in the United States versus Hong Kong might influence finan
> Determine the IRR to the nearest percent for the following projects: a. An initial outlay of $10,000 resulting in cash inflows of $2,000 at the end of Year 1, $5,000 at the end of Year 2, and $8,000 at the end of Year 3 b. An initial outlay of $10,000 re
> In Finance for Life: Your Cash Budget and Personal Savings Ratio on page 102, we defined something called your personal savings ratio. What is this ratio, and how can you use it when thinking about gaining control over your personal finances?
> What are the limitations of industry-average ratios as a source of benchmarks for a firm’s financial condition? Discuss briefly.
> Analyzing a firm’s financial condition using its financial statements can be likened to performing a physical examination. A physician assesses a patient’s health by checking temperature, blood pressure, and other vital signs. What are the vital signs
> In Finance for Life: Your Personal Balance Sheet and Income Statement on page 56, we learned that individuals have financial statements just like firms. Prepare your personal balance sheet using the following items: (i) You have a 2003 Corolla that you b
> The cash flow statement is one of the four basic financial statements. Define the objective in preparing this statement, and discuss some of the types of questions that can be addressed using its content.
> In 2016, RubKing Barbeque Sauce, Inc., purchased a new bottling machine at a cost of $1.5 million. The new machine is expected to last for 10 years, and the firm plans to depreciate it using straight-line depreciation of $150,000 per year. What is the ca
> Appleby Southern Inc. had an accounts payable balance of $5 million at the end of 2015, and that balance rose to $7 million in 2016. What is the cash flow consequence of this change in accounts payable?
> When bank loan officers are evaluating the creditworthiness of a potential commercial borrower, they often look to the firm’s net working capital balance as an indicator of the firm’s overall liquidity. How is net working capital defined, and what does i
> From the firm’s perspective, how are cash dividends different from interest payments?
> East Coast Television is considering a project with an initial outlay of $X (you will have to determine this amount). It is expected that the project will produce a positive cash flow of $50,000 at the end of each year for the next 15 years. The appropri
> Firm income statements document the revenues earned and the expenses incurred in generating those revenues during the period covered. However, firm expenses are categorized into one of three groups: cost of goods sold, operating expenses, and interest ex
> In Finance in a Flat World: GAAP vs. IFRS on page 61, we learned that GAAP, the financial reporting system used in the United States, is not the same as that used throughout the rest of the world. However, the U.S. system is converging with the internati
> Describe the content of the balance sheet and the income statement.
> What makes preferred stock “preferred”?
> What is the difference between a debt security and an equity security?
> What is a mutual fund, and how does it differ from an exchange-traded fund (ETF)?
> Describe the difference between the primary market and the secondary market.
> What do investment banks do in the financial markets?
> What is a financial intermediary? List and describe the principal types of financial intermediaries in the U.S. financial markets.
> What are the three principal sets of players that interact in the financial markets?
> Determine the IRRs for the following projects: a. An initial outlay of $10,000 resulting in a cash inflow of $1,993 at the end of each year for the next 10 years b. An initial outlay of $10,000 resulting in a cash inflow of $2,054 at the end of each year
> Emily’s Soccer Mania is considering building a new indoor soccer facility for local soccer clubs to rent. This project will require an initial cash outlay of $10 million and will generate annual cash inflows of $3 million per year for Years 1 through 5.
> Go to the Motley Fool website (www.fool.com), and under the tab “Guides,” click on “Retirement.” Describe the information available here for planning for your retirement.
> Go to the Market Watch website (www.marketwatch.com), and click on “Sections” then on “Personal Finance.” This is a great resource for information and help in managing your personal finances. Find an article you like, read it, and write a summary of it.
> Go to Yahoo Finance (http://finance.yahoo.com), and enter “GOOG” (the ticker symbol for Alphabet, formerly Google) in the “Enter Symbol(s)” box at the top of the page. What is the price at which the stock last traded? What is the last trade time, and how
> What are the two types of private equity funds? What does each do with the money it raises from investors?
> What is a hedge fund, and how is it different from a mutual fund?
> The distribution of financial assets around the world is described in Finance in a Flat World: Where’s the Money Around the World on page 32. What country dominates in terms of the stock market and total financial assets? Of the United Kingdom, Germany,
> In Finance for Life: Controlling Costs in Mutual Funds on page 24, the importance of keeping expenses down is discussed. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority website provides an easy way to compare mutual funds. Go to the website, http:// apps.fin
> Why is maximizing a firm’s accounting profits not an appropriate goal for the firm?
> What goal do the owners of a for-profit business generally strive for?
> If the Marifield Steel Fabrication Company earned $500,000 in net income and paid a cash dividend of $300,000 to its stockholders, what are the firm’s earnings per share if the firm has 100,000 shares of stock outstanding?
> What are the IRRs for the following projects? a. An initial outlay of $10,000 resulting in a single cash inflow of $17,182 in 8 years b. An initial outlay of $10,000 resulting in a single cash inflow of $48,077 in 10 years c. An initial outlay of $10,0
> If GMT Transport Company (from the previous problem) plans to reinvest $1 million of its earnings back in the firm and pay out the remainder in cash dividends to the firm’s shareholders, what is the total amount of the cash dividend?
> In the year just ended, Callaway Lighting had sales of $5,000,000 and incurred a cost of goods sold of $4,500,000. The firm’s operating expenses were $130,000, and its increase in retained earnings was $40,000 for the year. There are currently 100,000 co
> Last year thea. Assuming the firm’s earnings are taxed at 35 percent, construct the firm’s income statement. b. Compute the firm’s operating profit margin. P. M. Postem Corporation had sales of $400,000, with a cost of goods sold of $112,000. The firm’s
> ALei Industries has credit sales of $150 million a year. ALei’s management reviewed its credit policy and decided that it wants to maintain an average collection period of 40 days. a. What is the maximum level of accounts receivable that ALei can carry a
> As the newest hire to the financial analysis group at Patterson Printing Company, you have been asked to perform a basis financial analysis of the company’s most recent financial statements. The 2016 balance sheet and incom
> Following you will find the income statements and balance sheets for Sears Holdings (SHLD) and Target Corporation (TGT). Assume that you are a financial manager at Sears and want to compare your firm’s situation with that of Target. Cal
> On May 25, 2009, the stock of Emerson Electric (EMR) was trading for $32.18 per share, whereas the stock of its larger rival, General Electric Corporation (GE), was trading for only $13.11. Interpret the relative pricing of the two firm’
> On August 1, 2007, Dell Computer Corporation’s stock closed trading at $27.76 per share, whereas the stock of Apple Corporation (AAPL) closed at $133.64 per share. Does this mean that because Apple’s stock price is rou
> The T. P. Jarmon Company manufactures and sells a line of exclusive sportswear. The firm’s sales were $600,000 for the year just ended, and its total assets exceeded $400,000. The company was started by Mr. Jarmon just 10 years ago an
> The annual sales for Salco, Inc., were $4.5 million last year. The firm’s end-of-year balance sheet was as follows: Salco’s income statement for the year was as follows: a. Calculate Salco’s total
> The Templeton Manufacturing and Distribution Company of Tacoma, Washington, is contemplating the purchase of a new conveyor belt system for one of its regional distribution facilities. Both the alternatives it is considering will accomplish the same task
> The Brenmar Sales Company had a gross profit margin (gross profits ÷ sales) of 30 percent and sales of $9 million last year. Seventy-five percent of the firm’s sales are on credit, and the remainder is cash sales. Brenmar’s current assets equal $1.5 mill
> The R. M. Smithers Corporation had an operating profit margin of 10 percent based on sales of $10 million and total assets of $5 million last year. a. What was Smithers’s total asset turnover ratio? b. The company’s president has set a goal for the comi
> The last two years of financial statements for Blunt Industries are as follows: a. Calculate the following financial ratios for 2015 and 2016: b. Evaluate the firm’s financial position at the end of 2015 in terms of its liquidity,
> The balance sheet and income statement for the J. P. Robard Manufacturing Company are as follows: J. P. Robard Manufacturing Company Balance Sheet ($ thousands) Cash $ 500 Accounts receivable 2,000 Inventory 1,000 Total current assets 3,500 Net fix
> When a firm enters into a loan agreement with its bank, it is very common for the agreement to have a restriction on the minimum current ratio the firm has to maintain. So it is important that the firm be aware of the effects of its decisions on the curr
> The Mitchem Marble Company has a target current ratio of 2.0 but has experienced some difficulties financing its expanding sales in the past few months. At present, the firm has a current ratio of 2.5 and current assets of $2.5 million. If Mitchem expand
> Lei Materials’ balance sheet lists $1 billion in total assets, $100 million in current liabilities, $400 million in long-term debt, $500 million in common equity, and 50 million shares of common stock. If Lei’s current stock price is $50, what is the fir
> The balance sheet for Larry’s Discount Tire Company shows a book value of stockholders’ equity (book value per share * total shares outstanding) of $23,500,000. Furthermore, the firm’s income statement for the year just ended has net income of $500,000,
> Greene, Inc.’s balance sheet indicates that the book value of stockholders’ equity (book value per share * total shares outstanding) is $750,500. The firm’s earnings per share are $3, which produces a price-earnings ratio of 12.25. If there are 50,000 sh
> Look up the statement of cash flows for both Home Depot and Lowe’s using either Google Finance or Yahoo Finance. a. Compute the quality of earnings ratio for the latest three years for both firms. b. Compare the quality of earnings ratios for the two fir
> Barry Boswell is a financial analyst for Dossman Metal Works, Inc., and he is analyzing two alternative configurations for the firm’s new plasma cutter shop. The two alternatives, denoted A and B below, will perform the same task, but a
> The Caraway Seed Company grows heirloom tomatoes and sells their seeds. Heirloom tomato plants are preferred by many growers for their superior flavor. At the end of the most recent year, the firm had current assets of $50,000, net fixed assets of $250,0
> Last year the commercial real estate firm Kelly and Co., Inc., earned taxable income of $19 million. a. Calculate Kelly’s federal income taxes. b. Now calculate Kelly’s average and marginal tax rates.
> Meyer Inc. has taxable income (earnings before taxes) of $300,000. Calculate Meyer’s federal income tax liability using the tax table in this chapter. What are the firm’s average and marginal tax rates?
