Prior to writing the paper, you will need to research your
chosen company. Search the Internet for the financial statements of your
favorite company or your employer. You can either locate the corporate Web site
for your chosen company, or you can select a company’s financial statements
from the EDGAR database at http://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/webusers.htm
Evaluate the financial health of a company and conduct an
industry comparison to determine how your company’s financial performance
compares with others in its industry.
As you conduct your research, consider the following factors
as a guideline for determining the financial health of your company:
? Financial
data from the company’s annual report or 10-K report
? Current
and future financial performance of the company
? Success
of the company’s operations
? Policies
and strategies of management
? Performance
of the economy
? How the
company is doing in comparison with its competitors in the same industry
? Your
recommendations for corrections needed or future trends for the next quarter or
next year.
The following sources provide comparative statistical ratios
to help determine a company’s relative position within its industry:
1. Dun & Bradstreet Information Services, Industry Norms
and Key Business Ratios.
Murray Hill, NJ.
2. The Risk Management Association, Annual Statement
Studies. Philadelphia, PA.
3. Standard & Poor’s Corporation, Ratings Handbook and
Industry Surveys. New York, NY.
4. Gale Research Inc., Manufacturing U.S.A. Industry
Analyses. Detroit, MI.
Additional resources for comparative and other information
about companies can
be found on the following free Internet sites:
1. Yahoo!, http://finance.yahoo.com/
2. Market Watch, www.marketwatch.com
3. Reuters, www.investor.reuters.com
