finanace

Discussion 1

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?

Discussion 2

Go to the Yahoo Finance Bonds Center.

Under: Bonds Center click Bond Screener:

Click the Corporate check box under Bond Type then click Find Bonds.

Choose any bond.

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?

Final paper

The Final Project will involve applying 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 and 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 Library and select “Find Articles and More” in the top menu panel. Next, select “Databases A-Z” and go to section “M” for “Mergent”. 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:

An introduction to the company, including background information.

A complete and thorough financial statement review.

Pro Forma financial statements (Balance Sheet and Income Statement) for the next fiscal year, assuming a 10 percent growth rate in sales and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for the next year.

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

A calculation of Return on Equity (ROE) using the DuPont system.

Assessment of management performance by calculating Economic Value Added (EVA).

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 pages) using APA 6th edition formatting guidelines. 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.