accounting and finance

The basic requirement is to undertake a financial analysis of two well known public ally listed companies in the same sector. Groups may choose two companies from the following sectors:finance, retail or [login to view URL] analysis period should include material based upon the most recent published annual accounts but also include data from the previous two years when undertaking ratio analysis. (Note: students are to use the ‘Consolidated’ data in conducting their analysis.) Then analysis should consider the ratio categories of profitability, asset efficiency, liquidity,capital structure, and market performance. The written report should explain briefly what is revealed by the ratios and other calculations in the context of the company’s profitability, asset efficiency, liquidity, capital structure, and market performance. In particular, any important changes over the most recent period should be identified, discussed and, where possible, explained. You should also provide an overall assessment of whether the company’s performance for the most recent period and discussion regarding which of the two companies has demonstrated the most improvement. A detailed calculation of relevant ratios and other useful calculations should be included as one or more appendices prepared using Excel or a similar spreadsheet. Students are advised to show the formula used in determining particular ratios and other figures. Data items (for example ‘Sales Revenue’ or ‘Total Assets’) should be entered in a single cell in a specially designated ‘data area’ in the spreadsheet, with any calculation referencing the relevant data cells. - Whilst the annual reports will be the primary source of information, students are encouraged to access other public ally available information, analysis and data. All sources of information must be fully referenced.