Essays and Research Papers on Finance

This 5 page paper examines the financial performance of Sento Corp between 2002 – 2005 using a ratio analysis looking at profitability, efficiency and performance. The bibliography cites 2 sources.

A 5 page paper answering several questions about what a company should do to improve its bottom line. Its sales are down for the first nine months of the year and expenses and inventories have increased. The paper provides calculations for the company's ROI, capital turnover and gross margin, and discusses possible courses ...

This 5 page paper answer three questions set by the student. The first considers how to value Sento shares in the future and the way a discount rate can be determined and applied to a futures contract. The second part of the paper examines how different projects may be assessed for discount rates by their ...

A 3 page paper discussing Delta's ongoing struggles to remain operational and out of bankruptcy. GE and American Express extended loans and prepaid service payments late in 2004 on the condition that Delta significantly reduce expenses over the following two years. Industry analysts believe that the loans may only be delaying the inevitable. ...

A 3 page paper discussing this brokerage firm's willingness to accept risk. Number 59 on the 2005 Fortune 500, the company clearly has been successful in its strategy and in its assessment and management of the risks it faces in today's investment environment. Whether it can continue that success is another matter. ...

A 9 page paper presenting an interview with the CFO of a hypothetical multinational company. The interview focuses on finance, of course, and includes such topics as the rigors of financial management; leadership; optimal capital structure; core beliefs; tax planning; ratio analysis; currency hedging; and investor relations. Bibliography lists 1 source.

This 8 page paper examines the financial performance of Starbucks, the well known international coffee house and coffee company. The paper looks at the different profit levels, the efficiency ratios and liquidity ratios for the company and also compares performance to the general industry figures. The bibliography cites 10 sources.

This 6 page paper is written in 2 parts. The first part looks at Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) and considers which model would be most appropriate for a financial professional to use. To assess this both models are described and the evidence to support them considered. The second part ...

A 4 page paper discussing the economy in the US in 3Q2005 and making recommendations for the future. The primary recommendation is that the Federal Reserve leave interest rates as they are at present as long as inflation does not become problematic. Business profits may decline as fuel costs rise. Tax revenues ...

This 11 page paper answers questions set by the student. The first shows the student how to use Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Payback to access the potential purchase of some equipotent that will creates operating cost savings. The paper then considers the advantages and disadvantages of using the NPV, ...

This 5 page paper looks at a case study supplied by the student. The paper examines the accounting strategy that is used, absorption or overhead costing, looks at how and why it is failing before suggesting an alternative strategy and system. The bibliography cites 2 sources.

An 11 page paper discussing the value of financial statements prepared according to traditional methods and accounting convention. Some have questioned whether traditional approaches to accounting convention can continue to serve the needs of organizations and investors in providing "relevant and reliable information for stewardship and decision making purposes." This is the topic ...

This 6 page paper discusses Online banking in the United Kingdom with an emphasis on HSBC Holdings plc. The paper reports the different data regarding the number of people using the Internet for different financial transactions and the forecasts for the future. The writer also provides an overview of HSBC Holdings plc. The risks associated ...

A 5 page paper discussing possible approaches for raising funds and paying for upcoming operational items at Intel and Sento. Intel's problem is a product recall; the paper recommends that the company pay an initial $725 million from the sale of debt instruments existing for future hedging activities and issue long-term bonds to raise ...

A 4 page paper answering several venture capital questions. One discusses an entrepreneur's (Heather Evans) quest for locating venture capital; another asks for comparison of standard venture capital advice and requirements between the US and companies in SE Asia. The paper also discusses entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and other related topics. Bibliography lists 2 ...

Employee stock options schemes are not cost free to the employer. However, under certain circumstances employers did not have to account for costs in the accounts. This 7 page paper considers how and why employee stock options schemes were used and accounted for and considers the impact of FASB 123 which introduced the concept of ...

A 3 page paper discussing the factors that may be present and contribute to value for acquiring banks in mergers and acquisitions. The factors identified are greater cost efficiencies, enhanced revenues, effective integration and potential tax benefits under Section 197 of the Internal Revenue Code. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

This 5 page paper looks at mutual funds, their regulation, structure and development and market size comparing the UK with the US and Canada. The paper cites 7 sources.

This 4 page paper presents a table with the results of Wal-Mart 2001 – 2005 with the earnings per share (EPS), price earnings ratio (P/E ratio), he dividend yield and the common stock price. The paper then looks at the performance of the company and makes a buy, sell or hold recommendation justifying it with ...

This 11 page paper answers three questions set by the student. In the first two questions there is a company that needs to be valued, methods used include book value, dividend discount model and capital asset pricing model. The last questions performs a free cash flow calculation. The bibliography cites 1 source.

This 5 page paper is made up only of tables which have the financial results and a range of different ratios for Pfizer and Merck for the year 2004 accounts.

This 5 page paper discusses the view that the exclusion of some intangible assets from the balance sheet is inconsistent and gives an incomplete picture, which cannot be justified by the requirement for accounts to be objective and prudent. The bibliography cites 3 sources.

The role of the auditor is to give an opinion regarding the truthfulness and fairness of the financial statements in the annual accounts. This 3 page paper considers to what degree the auditor is responsible for detecting fraud and their liability to shareholders who rely on their opinion. The bibliography cites 4 sources.

This 3 page paper explains what is meant by the term intangible assets, looks at the different types and then considers how they are treated in the accounts, including amortization and impairment. The bibliography cites 1 source.

This 4 page paper considers how a general economic forecast looking at GDP and inflation may be used by a builder to forecast demand for homes or industrial buildings. The bibliography cites 2 sources.