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BUS401 Week 1 DQ 1 The Role of Financial Management in a Firm
The Role of Financial Management in a Firm. Summarize the role of management as it relates to finance in a corporation. In your post, address the following:
§ Indicate the various aspects of finance that management must understand.
§ Describe why a manager needs to understand the characteristics and importance of financial markets including risk and efficiency.
§ Describe why cash flow is more important than sales in a business.
§ Discuss what could happen if management does not fulfill responsibilities related to finance. If you have one, share a real world example from your own professional experience or from an external source.
Your post should be 200-250 words in length.
BUS 401 Week 1 DQ 2 Financial Statements
Financial Statements. View the Important Financial Documents video which looks at the fundamental financial documents every company needs; including the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flow. In your post, choose one of the financial statements and explain how a manager would use the statement to drive financial analysis and decision-making. Your post should be 200-250 words in length
BUS 401 Week 1 Financial Management Challenges and Ethics
Financial Management Challenges and Ethics. Find at least two articles from the ProQuest database that highlight and discuss two of the biggest challenges facing financial managers today. One of the articles should be about the challenge of maintaining ethical financial integrity. The other article can be on any other challenge that a financial manager may face (e.g., competition, foreign markets, government intervention, etc.).
Summarize your findings from the articles in a two- to three-page paper excluding title page and references page(s). The paper should be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Be sure to properly cite your sources using APA style
BUS 401 Week 1 Quiz
1.
Question : The financial goal of a for-profit business is:
Student Answer:
profit maximization.
owner wealth maximization.
cash flow maximization.
utility maximization.
Points Received: 1 of 1
2.
Question : Suppose two investments produce the same expected cash flows. We would assign a higher value to the investment with:
Student Answer:
lower risk.
higher cash flow variability.
higher risk.
the highest possible cash flows under ideal conditions.
Points Received: 1 of 1
3.
Question : Opportunity costs can vary over time and:
Student Answer:
are almost always close to 10%.
represent the highest possible return you can earn on an investment.
are always based on the interest rate offered on bank savings accounts.
set a return that other investments must equal or exceed to be attractive.
Points Received: 1 of 1
4.
Question : Time is a factor when determining the value of a possible investment. As investors, all else being equal, we value investments:
Student Answer:
more the longer we have to wait for the payoff.
less the longer we have to wait for the payoff.
with predefined wait times for payoff.
regardless of time because a dollar is always a dollar.
Points Received: 1 of 1
5.
Question : An investment, such as a bond, will have a higher expected return (or yield) if it:
Student Answer:
has a higher purchase price.
holds a higher rating, such as AAA or AA.
carries greater risk.
has been issued by a well-known company.
Points Received: 1 of 1
6.
Question : The value of an asset is based on four characteristics—cash flows, time, risk, and opportunity costs—but in many situations we can estimate an asset’s value by:
Student Answer:
ignoring risk, which simplifies the calculation.
assigning our personal value to the asset.
adding a risk premium to the current return on US government bonds.
looking at its market price.
Points Received: 1 of 1
7.
Question : Over the past 50 years, stocks listed on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) have:
Student Answer:
returned a very steady 12% per year.
never had a single year with a negative return.
never been overpriced or underpriced.
had annual returns ranging from negative 30% to over positive 30%.
Points Received: 1 of 1
8.
Question : The accounting method you use in your checkbook is best described as:
Student Answer:
cash accounting.
accrual accounting.
deficit reduction.
balance sheet accounting.
Points Received: 1 of 1
9.
Question : On the typical balance sheet, the right-hand side shows:
Student Answer:
the book value of plant, property, and equipment.
the market value of liabilities.
the accounting value of liabilities and equity.
the market value of common stock
Points Received: 1 of 1
10.
Question : To arrive at a more accurate estimate of cash flow we would add depreciation expense to net income. The next step would be to:
Student Answer:
reduce our estimate by the increases in liabilities.
reduce our estimate by the decreases in assets
increase our estimate by the increases in liabilities.
do nothing more because we have an accurate estimate.
Points Received: 1 of 1
BUS 401 Week 2 DQ 1 Dreams Do Come True
Dreams Do Come True. Imagine that you have decided you need a new car, but not any car will do; you have decided to purchase the car of your dreams. Conduct some research as to the cost of this car. You have determined in this imagined scenario that you could afford to make a 10% down payment. You can borrow the balance either from your local bank using a four-year loan or from the dealership’s finance company. If you purchase from your dealership’s finance company, the APR will be 10% with your 10% down and monthly payments over three years. However, the dealership will give you a rebate of 5% of the car price after the three year term is complete. You want the best deal possible, so you consider the following questions:
§ What type of car have you selected, and what will it cost?
§ What is the interest rate from your local bank for a car loan for four years?
§ What will your payment be to your local bank, assuming your 10% down payment? Be sure to use the formula provided in Chapter 4 and show your work. How much will that car have cost in four years?
§ What will your payment be to the dealership finance company assuming your 10% down payment? Be sure to use the formula provided in Chapter 4 and show your work. How much will that car have cost in 3 years?
§ Which is the better deal and why?
BUS 401 Week 2 DQ 2 Present and Future Values, and Expected Returns
Investing in Bonds. Go to the Yahoo Finance Bonds Center.
Under: Features / BOND LOOKUP / Find Bonds by Name:
Type in the first letter of your last name.
Under “Type” Choose one of the “Corp” Bonds.
Assume interest rates for bonds today is 5% for an AAA rated bond. Calculate the price of the bond you have selected relative to the 5%. Is the bond selling at a premium or a discount? Why? Be sure to show how you arrived at your answer. What other factors may influence the value of a bond?
BUS 401 Week 2 Journal Present and Future Values, and Expected Returns
Present and Future Values, and Expected Returns. We examined two important topics in finance this week: (a) present and future values and (b) security valuation.
Critically reflect on the importance of present and future values. What factors must be considered when calculating present and future values? What other qualitative factors play into present and future value decisions? Perhaps you have opportunities in your professional life to use present and future values. What are some real or potential applications of these concepts?
We also looked at expected returns. Why do bond values go down when interest rates go up? Is this true in the opposite direction?
BUS 401 Week 2 Quiz
1. Question : The longer we have to wait for a future amount to be received:
Student Answer:
the lower its present value will be.
the higher its present value will be.
Time does not affect present value, so it doesn’t matter how long we have to wait.
Beyond 10 years the value doesn’t change anymore because 10 years might as well be 20 years.
Points Received: 1 of 1
2. Question : Compounding means that:
Student Answer:
dollar interest the first year is multiplied by the number of years to get total interest.
the same dollar amount of interest is paid each period.
interest is paid on interest earned in earlier periods.
the rate of interest grows over time.
Points Received: 1 of 1
3. Question : An ordinary annuity has its first payment ______, but an annuity due has its first payment _________.
Student Answer:
at the beginning of the period; at the beginning of the period.
at the beginning of the period; at the end of the period.
at the end of the period; at the end of the period.
at the end of the period; at the beginning of the period.
Points Received: 1 of 1
4. Question : The great majority of stock trades occur:
Student Answer:
in the secondary markets.
in the primary market.
as IPOs (initial public offerings).
directly between the company and investors.
Points Received: 1 of 1
5. Question : Shareholders gains come in the form of:
Student Answer:
only dividends.
only capital gains.
dividends and capital gains.
interest payments.
Points Received: 1 of 1
6. Question : Interest rates are given as annual rates. If semiannual (twice a year) compounding is being used, then you would make the following adjustments:
Student Answer:
Double the rate and double the number of years.
Double the rate and halve the number of years.
Halve the rate and halve the number of years.
Halve the rate and double the number of years.
Points Received: 1 of 1
7. Question : Which of the following is true of the structure of a zero-coupon bond?
Student Answer:
an annuity of interest payments and a single principal payment at maturity
no interim interest payments but a variable payment at maturity, depending on interest rates
an annuity of payments comprised of both interest and principal
no interim interest payments and a single payment at maturity
Points Received: 1 of 1
8. Question : If we make the assumption that a company’s dividends grow at some constant rate, then we can value the stock as:
Student Answer:
a growing perpetuity.
a growing annuity.
a perpetuity.
an annuity.
Points Received: 1 of 1
9. Question : Which of the following is NOT true of preferred stock?
Student Answer:
Preferred stock generally pays a fixed dividend.
Preferred stock is a perpetuity.
Dividends on preferred stock are tax deductible.
Preferred stock dividends have a higher priority than common stock dividends.
Points Received: 1 of 1
10. Question : Zeta Corporation just paid a $2.00 dividend. Analysts believe that Zeta Corporation’s dividend will grow by 20% next year, and then settle into a constant growth regime at 5% per year into the future. If investors assign a required rate of return of 12% to Zeta’s stock, what should the stock sell for today?
Student Answer:
$30.00
$32.14
$34.29
$36.00
Points Received: 1 of 1
BUS 401 Week 2 Teaching Net Present Value (NPV) and Future Value (FV)
Teaching Net Present Value (NPV) & Future Value (FV). Assignment Instructions: You have been asked by a manager in your organization to put together a training program explaining Net Present Value (NPV) and Future Value (FV) and how they are used to evaluate the price of stock.
Upon completing your Net Present Value (NPV) & Future Value (FV) Training Program, employees should be able to:
Explain NPV and FV.
Describe the factors that are used in the NPV and the FV formulas.
Give an example of how to use the formulas for NPV and FV for a stock purchase.
Summarize the differences between the two formulas and the purpose of using each.
Develop a PowerPoint presentation that is 10 to 12 slides long (excluding title and reference slides) and covers each of the above topics. In the slide notes, include your explanations for each topic. If you need assistance, please refer to the Notes pane in PowerPoint 2010 article. Format the presentation according to APA style guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Be sure to properly cite your sources using APA style.
BUS 401 Week 3 DQ 1 Cash Flows From Working
Cash Flows From Working. It may surprise you that there are cash flows associated with holding a job. Using the examples provided in Chapter 6, construct a simple cash flow statement and payback calculation for when your job expenses will be covered for employment you currently have or have had in the past. Include the following in your cash flow statement:
Expenses associated with working
Any initial investments
Taxes
BUS 401 Week 3 DQ 2 Capital Budgeting
Capital Budgeting. View the Capital Budgeting video, which provides some factors that should be considered in capital budgeting considerations.
Imagine the producers of this video ask you to appear in the video to offer two additional considerations in capital budgeting decisions. One consideration must be quantitative (numeric). The other must be qualitative (non-numeric). Write a script to describe capital budgeting considerations that you think are important for managers to consider. Your script should be 200 to 250 words.
BUS 401 Week 3 Quiz
1. Question : The appropriate cash flows for evaluating a corporate investment decision are:
Student Answer:
incremental additional cash flows.
marginal after-tax cash flows.
incremental after-tax cash flows.
investment after-tax cash flows.
Points Received: 1 of 1
2. Question : The typical corporate investment requires a large cash outlay followed by several years of cash inflows. To make these cash flows comparable, we do which of the following?
Student Answer:
Adjust both cash outflows and inflows for taxes.
Subtract interest charges to reflect the time value of money.
Adjust both outflows and inflows for the effects of depreciation.
Apply time value of money concepts and compare present values.
Points Received: 1 of 1
3. Question : If depreciation expense is a noncash charge, why do we consider it when determining cash flows?
Student Answer:
because depreciation expense reduces taxable income, so reduces the amount of taxes paid
because depreciation expense offsets part of the initial cash outlay for depreciable assets
because depreciation expense reduces net income
because depreciation expense is a method for allocating costs
Points Received: 1 of 1
4. Question : The internal rate of return is:
Student Answer:
the discount rate at which the NPV is maximized.
the discount rate used by people within the company to evaluate projects.
the rate of return that a project must exceed to be acceptable.
the discount rate that equates the present value of benefits to the present value of costs.
Points Received: 1 of 1
5. Question : Chapter 7 introduced three methods for evaluating a corporate investment decision. Which of the following is not one of those methods?
Student Answer:
payback period
net present value (NPV)
return on assets (ROA)
internal rate of return (IRR)
Points Received: 1 of 1
6. Question : In perfect capital markets, the capital structure decision is:
Student Answer:
important because it affects the cash flows to shareholders.
important because debt and equity are taxed differently.
irrelevant because the decision has no effect on cash flows.
important sometimes.
Points Received: 1 of 1
7. Question : The interplay of the tax advantages of debt and the threat of bankruptcy results in:
Student Answer:
companies that have some optimal level of debt that maximizes firm value.
all companies having a debt-to-equity ratio close to 50%.
all companies having a debt-to-equity ratio close to 30%.
capital structure being irrelevant.
Points Received: 1 of 1
8. Question : Costs associated with bankruptcy include:
Student Answer:
legal fees, managerial time shifted away from value creation, and loss of brand value.
legal fees, additional inventory costs from sales growth, and loss of brand value.
legal fees, managerial time shifted away from value creation, and increased market share.
legal fees, employees leaving the company, and cost savings from lower labor costs.
Points Received: 1 of 1
9. Question : All else being equal, as debt replaces equity in a profitable company’s capital structure, which of the following occurs?
Student Answer:
Interest expense increases, reducing taxable income and reducing taxes.
Interest expense increases, reducing net income and earnings per share.
Interest expense increases, reducing cash flows available to shareholders.
Interest expense increases, reducing profitability and the wealth of shareholders.
Points Received: 1 of 1
10. Question : Two important aspects of debt financing are its tax advantages and the threat of bankruptcy. As a company shifts to more and more debt financing:
Student Answer:
these factors reinforce one another, implying that more debt is always better.
the tax advantage always outweighs bankruptcy risk.
the threat of bankruptcy makes only very low levels of debt acceptable.
the threat of bankruptcy eventually completely offsets the tax advantage of debt.
Points Received: 1 of 1
BUS 401 Week 3 Return on Investment Education Funding
Return on Investment: Education Funding. Develop a three- to four-page analysis, excluding the title page and reference page(s), on the projected return on investment for your college education and projected future employment. This analysis will consist of two parts.
First, explain how you made the decision to pursue a degree in Business or Finance. In your explanation, include a summary of expenses related to that decision. Also, include things like cost of tuition, cost of books, and the interest that you may pay on any loans.
Next, conduct research on your desired occupation and identify how much compensation (return) you expect to earn. How long will it take to pay back the return on this investment? Be sure to consider the trade-off between the cost of education and the expected return on investment.
BUS 401 Week 4 DQ 1 Interviewing Peter Lynch
Interviewing Peter Lynch. Review the “Minimizing Risk” video segment, which is available through your online course.
In the video segment, you will watch an interview with two great investors of the twentieth century. Imagine you are Harry Reasoner, and you are allowed to ask Peter Lynch one question about market risk, discount rates, or the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). What question would you ask? Why do you feel that is an important question?
BUS 401 Week 4 DQ 2 Cost of Capital
Cost of Capital. Corporations often use different costs of capital for different operating divisions. Using an example, calculate the weighted cost of capital (WACC). What are some potential issues in using varying techniques for cost of capital for different divisions? If the overall company weighted average cost of capital (WACC) were used as the hurdle rate for all divisions, would more conservative or riskier divisions get a greater share of capital? Explain your reasoning. What are two techniques that you could use to develop a rough estimate for each division’s cost of capital? Your initial response should be 200 to 250 words
BUS 401 Week 4 Quiz
1. Question : Investors will make an investment if:
Student Answer:
the historical rate of return exceeds the expected rate of return.
the required rate of return exceeds the expected rate of return.
the expected rate of return exceeds the actual rate of return.
the expected rate of return exceeds the required rate of return.
Points Received: 1 of 1
2. Question : Which of the following is true regarding market risk?
Student Answer:
It is measured by beta.
It is also called nondiversifiable risk.
It is also called systematic risk.
all of the above
Points Received: 1 of 1
3. Question : Which of the following statements regarding the cost of equity is true?
Student Answer:
It can be estimated in three different ways.
It is always estimated using the present value of future dividends approach.
It is estimated by solving for the discount rate for a perpetuity.
It is generally lower than the cost of debt because equity holders are paid after taxes are paid.
Points Received: 1 of 1
4. Question : The weighted average cost of capital is:
Student Answer:
the average return for the company’s stock over the past several years.
the average cost, including commissions, for raising capital for the firm.
an average required return for each of the sources of capital used by the firm to finance its projects, weighted by the amount contributed by each source.
interest payments and dividends, divided by the price of bonds and stock, respectively.
Points Received: 1 of 1
5. Question : In the Capital Asset Pricing Model, the risk-free rate:
Student Answer:
links the CAPM to current market conditions.
is the historic long-term average rate of government bonds.
can be approximated by using yields on high-rated corporate bonds.
is always the current yield on 30-year US government Treasury bonds.
Points Received: 1 of 1
6. Question : In the Capital Asset Pricing Model, the market risk premium can be thought of as:
Student Answer:
the return investors expect to earn for each unit of risk as measured by beta.
the risk premium that any asset must pay above the risk-free rate.
the expected return on the market portfolio (or a broad market index).
a measure of risk of an asset.
Points Received: 1 of 1
7. Question : A bond pays semiannual coupon payments of $30 each. It matures in 20 years and is selling for $1,200. What is the firm’s cost of debt if the bond’s par value is $1,000? (Don’t forget this is a semiannual coupon.)
Student Answer:
2.23%
4.48%
1.80%
3.60%
Points Received: 1 of 1
8. Question : Which of the following is beta is used for?
Student Answer:
estimating a regression line
estimating a firm’s total risk to be used in the WACC
estimating a firm’s market risk and used with the CAPM
estimating the amount of leverage used by the firm
Points Received: 1 of 1
9. Question : The discount rate used in project evaluation should:
Student Answer:
be based on the firm’s overall risk.
be based on each project’s risk.
be estimated using the WACC for all projects.
All of the above are correct.
Points Received: 1 of 1
10. Question : The financing mix reflected in the WACC should:
Student Answer:
reflect the desired mix and not necessarily the mix being used to finance a specific project.
vary from project to project, depending on how they are financed.
always reflect the firm’s current capital structure.
None of these answers is correct.
BUS 401 Week 4 Assignment Identifying and Managing Risk
Identifying and Managing Risk In this assignment, you will compare and evaluate risk management techniques from experts in the field. Go to the Ashford University Library and find one article by James Kallman. Dr. Kallman, an expert in the field of risk management, has written many articles on managing financial risk. Find a second article in the Library from another credible author of your choice who also provides recommendations for risk management. Develop a three- to four-page analysis, excluding title and reference page(s), of the techniques Dr. Kallman has identified for managing risks. In this analysis, compare Dr. Kallman’s techniques to the techniques recommended in the second article you researched. Explain why you either agree or disagree with each authors’ recommendations. Identify other factors you believe should be considered in risk management. The assignment should be comprehensive and include specific examples. The paper should be formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. You must cite at least two scholarly sources from the Ashford University Library, one being an article by Dr. Kallman. Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
BUS 401 Week 5 DQ 1 Ratio Analysis
Ratio Analysis. Using the Ashford University Library as a resource, find two articles that discuss financial ratio analysis. Identify two advantages and two disadvantages to using ratios in financial analysis. Be sure to cite your sources using APA format as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
BUS 401 Week 5 DQ 2 Applying Ratios to a Business
Applying Ratios to a Business. Access the Evaluating Business Performance: Small Business Case Studies video in your online course.
The video focuses on profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and stability of business. Given what you have learned about ratio analysis, choose one of the businesses from the video (Rose Chong Costumes, Anro’s Floor Maintenance, or John Osborne’s Gym and Squash Center) and identify two ratios that would be helpful for the owner of the business to monitor. Be sure to explain what the ratio would tell the owner, and how it can be improved for the business.
BUS 401 Week 5 Final Paper New Syllabus, July 2013
Focus of the Final Paper
Evaluation of Corporate Performance
For the Final Paper, you will apply 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. You will then 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 University Library by clicking the “Library” link on the left navigation bar in your online course. Once you are in the Library, select “Find Articles and More” in the top menu panel. Next, select “Databases A-Z” and go to section M to access the Mergent database. 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:
a. An introduction to the company, including background information.
b. A complete and thorough financial statement review.
c. Pro Forma financial statements (balance sheet and income statement) for the next fiscal year, assuming a 10% growth rate in sales and cost of goods sold (COGS) for the next year.
d. 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
e. Calculate return on equity (ROE) using the DuPont system.
f. Calculate economic value added.
g. A synopsis of your findings, including your recommendations and rationale for whether or not to purchase stock from this company.
This report should be eight to ten pages long excluding title page and reference page(s). Use APA 6th edition formatting guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Support your findings and recommendations with evidence from at least five scholarly resources; such as the textbook, industry reports, and articles from the Ashford University Library.
