Financial Accounting ACCT202 Capstone Project – An Overview

Qualified Writers
Rated 4.9/5 based on 2480 reviews

100% Plagiarism Free & Custom Written - Tailored to Your Instructions

At North, all of our ACCT202 –Financial Accounting II courses are encouraged to have some type of capstone project incorporated into the course. Your course has adapted with some modification the continuing analysis problem found in your textbook as the capstone project that meets our needs.

 

Before starting this project I want to emphasize how important this project is to North’s accounting department and its ability to design, deliver and update courses that meet student needs while having some sort of overarching evidence that students are learning. This important project also provides accounting students with an opportunity to demonstrate that they can “pull everything together” in a professional and learned way in regards to their experiences in ACCT201 & ACCT202. If we accept that accounting, as defined, is a system of identifying, recording, and communicating economic events of the firm so that interested users can make decisions, then it should be clear that this project focuses on

using all you have learned about identifying transactions, recording those transactions and preparing financial statements so that you can now use that knowledge for the end game– analyze financial statements in order to make sound business decisions regarding the firm.

 

Therefore, this project requires you to step up your level of professionalism, written communication, research and analysis. In this project we’re looking for the ability to analyze accounting information and prepare a professional written report. We’re looking for the writing process and communications necessary to be successful in the business community. In the business community it’s important that we avoid giving one line answer that fail to allow a reader or customer to grasp the impact and importance of what we are communicating. Likewise, in this project, brief incomplete concepts and statements, unsupported conclusions and less than professional written communication will not be acceptable.

 

In preparing your written response in this project – I want you to remember at all times that you’re either taking the role of a Wall Street analyst who has tens of people listening to your advice, and depending on what you say, these people might invest tens of millions of dollars based on your analysis and recommendations. Or, you might want to think of yourself as a highly compensated vice president of a commercial bank making decisions to loan millions of dollars to a company based on your analysis of the company future ability to sustain itself, grow and ultimately repay the loan.  Either way, your analysis must to be thorough and your concluding statements and recommendations have to be clear; supported by verifiable source data or calculations.

 

In all aspects of this project you are required to show your own work. Simply Googling the ratios, using some other investment web site or printed research report issued by a brokerage firm or bank and turning it in as your own, will not work.  In fact the use of such tactics and submitted response will be considered a form of plagiarizing and could result in you receiving a failing grade or other sanctions imposed by the college. In the written/analysis portion, keep in mind the importance of the writing process and communication necessary in the business community – and take a professional approach to this answer. Please visit the LOFT on campus if you need assistance in writing professional level papers. You can also visit the business librarian if you need assistance doing college level research.  These resources are both available to online students who cannot come to campus via links in Canvas to the Loft Writing Center Plus and to the NSCC Library Resources.

 

 

1)    Compute the ratios in the exhibit on page 3 for Target and Walmart for 2010.  The financial statements can be found in the annual report – visit each company’s website, then go to investor relations to access the online report. For both companies, assume that all sales are

credit sales. Compare the ratios of Target and Walmart. Which company do you think is doing a better job in managing the following? Explain your answers.

  1. Liquidity
  2. b. Net income or loss
  3. c. Financing with debt or equity d.   Investing in assets
  4. Rewarding its stockholders

 

2)    Compute Target’s ROE for the year ending January 29, 2011, including the elements of net income/sales, sales/average total assets, and average total assets/average stockholders’ equity. What does this analysis tell you about how Target generates its ROE?

 

3)    What are Target’s dividends per share and dividend payout ratio for the last two years? Why do you think Target pays a dividend? How do you think Target determines the amount of dividend they will pay?

 

 

 

4)    Given Target’s stock price was $50 per share at the end of January 2011, what was Target’s PE ratio as of that date? If the average PE for companies is 15, what does this tell you the market is saying about Target’s future?

 

5)    Research Target for any important issues including ethical issues which it may have had to deal with in the last three years – evaluate the company’s response to these issues.

 

 

 

6)    Looking back over your answers to questions 1 – 5, how do you think Target is performing?

What is the short term (one year) and long run (five+ year) financial outlook Target?   Would

you buy the stock of Target? If so, why? If not, why not? On the other hand, if you were a commercial banker, would you lend money to this company? Support your conclusions with a summary of your research and analysis.

 

7)    Do you have any ideas of how to improve Target’s performance and its value?

 

Five  Key Questions             Ratios  used to analyze  and make  the  decision

 

 

 

Is the  business

a going  concern?

Use liquidity    ratios  to  determine   the  following:

 

 

Net Working   Capital   = Current   Assets   –   Current   Liabilities

 

o                                          Current   Assets

 

Current  Ratio  = Cu rrent

LO bOlO0

ra  I ities

 

 

Q  0       k  R   to     _Quick   Assets   (Cash  + Net Current   Receivables   + Short-Term    Investments)

 

UIC     a  10 –                                                       Cu rrent

LO bOlO0

ra  I ities

 

 

Cash Conversion   Cycle  = (Days-Sales-In-Inventory)         + (Receivable   Collection    Period)

–   (Accounts    Payable  Payment   Period)

 

Average   Inventory

Days-Sales-In-Inventory       = (Cost  of Goods  Sold/365    Days)

 

 

 

R 0              bl    C  II    to          Period   _  Average  Net Accounts   Receivable eceiva e   0   ec Ion    eno    –       (Net  Credit  Sales/365   Days)

 

 

o                                                         Average  Accounts    Payable

Accounts   Payable  Payment  Period   = (Cost  of Goods  Sold/365    Days)

 

 

 

 

How is the  business earning   a net

Use profitability     ratios  to  determine   the  following:

 

income  or loss?

Gross

o

Profit

Percentage

Gross  Profit

=  N    S  I

et    a es

 

Net  Income

 

Net Income  Percentage   =  N    S  I

et    a es

 

 

 

Where  is the  business getting its money  and can it pay its debt

Use solvency   ratios  to  determine   the following:

 

 

Debt Rato    loT=ota-l

 

 

 

-Lia-bi-litie-s

 

obligations?

Total  Assets

 

 

o                                                                          EBIT Interest   Coverage  Ratio  = I             E

nterest     xpense

 

 

 

 

 

How is the  business

investing   its  money

Use asset  management    ratios  to  determine   the  following:

 

 

and is it using  its

Accounts

o

Receivable

Turnover

0

Ratio  = A

Net Credit  Sales

N    A               R      0                               bl

 

assets  efficiently?

verage     et    ccounts      eceiva    e

 

 

o                               Cost  of  Goods  Sold

Inventory   Turnover   Ratio  = A             I

verage    nventory

 

 

Fixed  Asset  Turnover   Ratio  = A           sF~leA~

verage    rxe      ssets

 

o                                                                                   Sales

 

Total  Asset  Turnover   Ratio  = Average

T     I A

Iota     ssets

 

 

Net  Income

Return  on Assets  = A             ~     I A

verage    ota     ssets

 

 

 

 

Is the  busi ness generating    enough  net

income  to reward  the

Use market  analysis   ratios  to  determine   the  following:

 

 

 

o

Earnings  per Share  (EPS)

 

 

 

Net  Income

 

 

stockholders    for the use of their  money?

=                                                              0

Average   Number   of Common   Shares  Outstanding

 

 

o          0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Dividends

DIvidends   per Share  (DPS)  =                                                             0

Average   Number   of Common   Shares  Outstanding

 

 

 

 

Dividend   Payout  Ratio  =

Dividends

——

Net  Income

 

 

 

lt    (ROE)                        Net  Income

 

 

              Needs Improvement

 

8.25

       
Objective Exemplary 12.5 Proficient 11 Satisfactory 9.5  
     
         
  Prepare attractive and

 

professionally written reports in word or pdf

  Very well formed paragraphs.

 

Good use of charts, tables, or graphics – inserted and referenced correctly into document. Required elements: cover page, executive summary, illustrations, and table of contents, are all provided

  Well-formed paragraphs. Good

 

use of charts, tables, or graphics – inserted correctly, sometimes not referenced properly. Missing either cover page, executive summary, illustrations, or table of contents.

  Some ill-formed phrases and

 

awkward paragraphs. Some

use of graphics, missing two or more required elements.

    Poorly written, lacking

 

integration of graphics, or missing required elements.

     
   
 
 
  Make professional and effective

 

introduction of report and presentation

  Presents a concise lead-in to

 

the report and presentation

  Presents a reasonably good

 

introduction, but lacks information needed to focus the report and presentation.

  Gives too much information–

 

more like a summary.

    Does not give any

 

information about what to expect in the report and presentation.

 
   
 
  Effectively address problems

 

and issues presented

  Answers or addresses all

 

questions and includes many

other interesting facts.

  Answers or addresses all

 

questions and tasks and includes a few other interesting facts.

  Answers or addresses all

 

questions and tasks and includes no other interesting facts.

    Answers or addresses a few

 

questions and tasks suggested in the assignment

 
 
   
  Use data & excel spread sheet to

 

aid corporate research and analysis

  All Data table, spread sheets

 

and graphs neatly completed and totally accurate.

  One or two inaccuracies and

 

ill-formed characters.

  Two or more are incomplete,

 

minor inaccuracies and/or illegible characters.

    Data, table, spread sheets

 

and/or graph missing information and/or inaccurate.

 
 
     
  Use of Ratios and their

 

appropriateness in corporate research and analysis

  Selects and uses ratios which

 

are logical and adequately detailed -with supporting calculations.

  Most of the ratios used are

 

understandable, but some lack adequacy.

  Some of the ratios used are

 

understandable; most are confusing and/or lack detail.

    Ratios are presented with

 

little thought of their relevancy, some key ratios could be missing and/or confusing.

 
     
 
  Use a variety of resources to do

 

corporate analysis

  Uses a variety of (4 or more)

 

primary resources as basis of research and to support answering questions and addressing issues

  Uses 2-3 primary resources as

 

basis of research and to support answering questions and addressing issues.

  Uses 1-2 primary resources as

 

basis of research and to support answering questions and addressing issues.

    Uses 1 or less primary

 

resources as basis of research and for support when responding to questions and addressing issues.

 
 
   
 
  Formulate and express

 

conclusions, opinions and recommendations based on research and analysis

  Presents a logical explanation

 

for findings and addresses all of the questions and tasks in the assignment.

  Presents a logical explanation

 

for findings and addresses

some of the questions and tasks in the assignment.

  Presents an illogical

 

explanation for findings and addresses few questions and tasks in the assignment.

    Presents an illogical

 

explanation for findings

and does not address any of the questions and tasks suggested in the

assignment.

 
       
  Use appropriate grammar &

 

spelling when generating reports

  Paper follows the conventions

 

of English grammar, spelling, and usage.

  Paper follows the conventions

 

of English grammar, spelling, and usage with almost no errors.

  Paper follows the conventions

 

of English grammar, spelling, and usage with several errors.

    Paper does not follow the

 

conventions of English grammar, spelling, and usage.

 
 
   

 

 

Rubric for Accounting Capstone Project

Price: £159

100% Plagiarism Free & Custom Written - Tailored to Your Instructions