FINC 340 & 440 WEEK 1

FINC 355

What's Retirement Needs Analysis?

1. Discuss the process of retirement needs analysis including the various assumptions and steps in the process.

(Small paragraph to answer)

2. Textbook assignment (Homework #1, Ch 1, Ch 2 and Ch 3, and Ch 4) (See attached)

Textbook link: http://library.books24x7.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/toc.aspx?site=VGX8U&bookID=44797&refid=VGX8U

DIRECTIONS: Here is the Homework #1 Assignment. Use the Homework #1 Answer Sheet for your responses to the questions. When you have completed Homework #1 submit the Answer Sheet to your Homework #1 Assignment Folder. (Answer Sheet Attached)

Please submit your Homework #1 in MS Word format with the following file name: LastNameFirstInitial_Homework01AnswerSheet.docx. For example, if you name is John Smith, the file name of your Answer Sheet should be SmithJ_Homework01AnswerSheet.docx. Please use upper case letters for all your multiple choice answers. Each homework assignment will include 20 multiple choice questions.

FINC 440

1. Company Selections

Post your Top30-Rank company selection.  Edit the title to be [Company Ticker Symbol]-[FInitialLName].

Enter your Financial Sector or Private Business Valuation (Financials- DEF-2013DuffPhelpsReport.pdf ) choice in your text area.

Be sure you check each company's most recent 10k and morningstar.com to assure management has transparently reported their financial performance to your liking for this class.

Let me know if you would like to select a company not on the list and I will help you evaluate it.

Select Companies for Assignments During Course :  (1)Each student needs to select a publicly-traded company from the Top30-Rank list that will be used for the various short research evaluation assignments that will be done during the class.  Each student must select a different company; the first student to select a company gets to use that company.  (2) Each student must select a financial services company or the private business option for the Company Analysis and Valuation final assessment due Week 7.  Post your Selections in the Week 1 - Company Selections Discussion Forum.

2. Assignment - Financial Ratio Analysis:

Using the Financial Ratio Analysis Model (from Instructor) and data from the company 10k, Morningstar.com, or Mergent financial database (Library), prepare a financial ratio analysis of the company that you selected. What are the principal conclusions (strengths and weaknesses) that you derive from this analysis? (this requires a written analysis: 2-4 pages w/citations, tables, charts - each table or chart requires 150 word narrative w/thesis, supporting ratio and conclusion/recommendation)

NOTE: When using the Instructor Model: (1) complete ratio calculations for use in your Week 1 research paper assignment. (2) Complete the ranking model with 3 comparable companies for the Week 3 Ranking Valuation research paper assignment.

3. Assigned Discussion week 1

Actions for 'Assigned Discussion week 1

1. Role of Valuation - Explain the role of valuation in the field of financial management? What are severalexamples of how a company might use the valuation process?

2. Bias in Valuation and Equity Research – What are the risks of bias and how concerned should financial managers be about bias in the process of valuation and equity research? What specific things can analysts (or students) do to prevent bias from contaminating valuation and equity research work?

3. Profiting from Valuation Research –It might be observed that to profit from valuation and equity research, an analyst needs to assume or believe that markets are inefficient. Do you agree with that view or is it appropriate to assume that markets are efficient and that valuation and equity research can be profitable because they deliver superior insight about future performance?

4. Present Results of Financial Ratio Analysis - Post the results of the Financial Ratio Analysis that you prepared for this week’s assignment that is to be submitted to the Assignment Folder.

5. Most Important Things Learned – What are the most important things you learned from the study of this week’s readings and assignments?