How would this information be used by a credit analyst as compared to someone is going to make an investment decision?

PART ONE: DISCUSSION QUESTION

Discussion Question 1:

Ratio analysis involves calculations that use the data from the financial statements to evaluate the performance of companies in different key areas. How would this information be used by a credit analyst as compared to someone is going to make an investment decision?

PART TWO: COURSE PROJECT

Course Project: Tasks:

Using the financial information gathered in Week 1, address the following questions:

Identify two items or issues that cannot be derived from the financial statements of the two companies that you selected for your research.

Explain why these items or issues would be of concern to investors and other stakeholders. In your rationale, address the specific interests of the different users of financial statements.

Compare and contrast the two companies in terms of how well or how poorly they are performing in the areas of profit, debt, and asset turnover. Use appropriate ratios in your analysis. Indicate strategies for possible improvement in each area.