Final project: Financial Statement Analysis – Ford Motor Company

This semester we will analyze Ford Motor Company, Inc. Examine the financial
statements of the company as well as any other publicly available financial
data from websites such as .zacks.com/”>http://my.zacks.com,
.yahoo.com/”>http://finance.yahoo.com
and .marketwatch.com/”>http://www.marketwatch.com.

The project will be completed in five parts. In each part your will answer
specific questions and calculate some financial ratios. Remember, financial
ratios can be calculated different ways and publicly available financial
statements are not always in the format that carefully classifies assets and
liabilities.

Final project: Financial Statement Analysis (OVERVIEW)

In this class, you are required to complete a financial statement analysis
project. This project consists of the following parts;

Part A: Financial analysis of a publicly-held company. We will use Ford’s
latest consolidated and segment financial statements (form 10K) as filed with
the SEC. You will calculate the current ratio and profit margin for the
company as a whole. You will also answer general questions relating to Ford’s
business operations.

Part B: Discussion of risks. You will search Ford’s form 10K and identify three
major risks identified by the company. You will also assess the company’s
market share for automobiles. You will determine the company’s growth rate of
EPS or dividends.

Part C: Discussion of Ford’s capital structure. You will review Ford’s
consolidated financial statements. You will calculate the company’s debt/equity
ratio and the earnings per share. You will also determine the company’s return
on investment and the weighted average cost of capital.

Part D: Discussion of Free Cash Flow. You will determine Ford’s consolidated
free cash flow. In this part, you will make a prediction as to what the
company’s stock price would be in three (3) months. You will also review
analysts’ estimates and predictions for the past year.

Part E: An investment recommendation. You will answer questions relating to
whether the company maximizing the wealth of its shareholders? If not,
what can they do to achieve this result? You will review your
calculations and discussion of the following 6 ratios and financial measures:
Current Ratio, Debt/Equity Ratio, Return on Investment, Earnings per Share,
Profit Margin and Free Cash Flow. You will conclude your analysis with other
observations on the firm and whether your analysis differs from other analyses
that are available. You will indicate if there is any other measure you
would want in order to make an investment recommendation. Finally, you will
make an Investment Recommendation. For this recommendation, assume you have been
asked by an investor, age 35, who wishes to invest in conservative stocks that
will provide some income now but is mainly interested in growth over the next
ten (10) years. Would Ford meet this investor’s investment goals? Defend your
analysis in 2,000 to 2,500 words written in APA style and cite your sources in
a reference list.

Final Project

Part A:
Financial analysis of a publicly-held company. We will use Ford’s latest
consolidated and segment financial statements (form 10K) as filed with the SEC.
You will calculate the current ratio and profit margin for the company as a
whole. You will also answer general questions relating to Ford’s business
operations.

Requirements:

Step 1: Locate Ford’s form 10K for the most current year.
1. Go to the SEC’s website: www.sec.gov
2. Under Filings and Forms, go to “search for Company Filings”
3. Click on: Company or fund name, ticker symbol, CIK (Central Index Key), file
number, state, country, or SIC (Standard Industrial Classification).
4. The Ticker Symbol for Ford is F
5. Locate the form 10K for the latest year. Ford files its annual reports in
February. Note the interactive document does not provide all of the
information. You will need to open the form 10K.

Step 2:
1. What are Ford’s 2 major segments?
2. What are the major 3 components associated with Ford’s profitability for
cars and trucks?
3. Comment briefly (one paragraph) on Ford’s planning assumptions and key
metrics share.
4. Comment briefly (one paragraph) on Ford’s Market for Common Equity, Related Stockholder
Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Step 3: Calculate the current ratio and the profit margin for
Ford. It is useful to understand that you may have difference calculations due
to differences in the formula for the ratio. Compare your answers to
publicly-available information to see if your answers are close. Use any of the
websites listed in the directions. Be sure to use the consolidated financial
statements.

Step 4: Summarize your findings in a word document. You will add
to this document throughout the semester. Your final submission will include
the results from part A – D.

Part
B:
Discussion of risks. You will search Ford’s form 10K
and identify three major risks identified by the company. You will also assess
the company’s market share for the automotive segment. You will determine the
company’s growth rate.

Requirements:

Step 1: From the form 10K, item 1A, identify three (3) major
risks identified by the company you consider most important.
1. Read the form 10K item 1A.
2. Identify three major risks you consider most important to the company’s
future.
3. Calculate the company’s Beta coefficient of the stock. From any of the
websites listed in the directions, how does your calculation compare?

Step 2: From the form 10K, review item 7, Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Assess the company’s market share.
1. Read the form 10K, item 7, Management discussion and analysis of financial
Condition and Results of Operations.
2. Locate information about production volume of cars and market share.
3. Explain if the company’s market share for automobiles increased or decreased
over the past year. You may look at other sources to support management’s
position.

Step 3: Calculate the company’s growth rate of EPS or
dividends. Compare your calculation with publicly-available information from any
of the websites listed in the directions.
1. Calculate the growth rate of the company’s EPS or dividends using the
formula presented in the text.
2. Compare your result to publicly-available rates. Use one of the websites
listed in Part A.
3. Provide and explanation if your calculations differ from publicly-available
information.

Step 4: Summarize your findings in a word document. Add to the
document started on Part A. Your final submission will include the results from
part A – D.

Part C:
Discussion of Ford’s capital structure. You will
review Ford’s consolidated financial statements. You will calculate the
company’s debt/equity ratio and earnings per share. You will also determine the
company’s return on investment and weighted average cost of capital.

Requirements:

Step 1: Review the form 10K, item 15, to determine Ford’s
capital structure. From the consolidated balance sheet, what kinds of stock has
Ford issued?

Step 2: Read note 24. CAPITAL STOCK AND AMOUNTS PER SHARE.
What is the meaning of Earnings per share and diluted earnings per share?

Step 3: Calculate the debt/equity ratio. Use all long-term
debt in your calculation. Compare your answer to publicly available
information.

Step 4: Calculate the Earnings per Share. Compare your answer
to publicly available information.

Step 5: Determine the company’s return on investment.
Compare your answer to any website listed in the directions.

Step 6: Determine the company’s weighted average cost of
capital. Compare your answer to any of the websites listed in the directions.

Step 7: Comment on whether the firm’s capital structure is
optimal.

Step 8: Add to the document you started on Part A. Your final
submission will include the results from part A – D.

Part D:
Discussion of Free Cash Flow. You will determine
Ford’s consolidated free cash flow. In this part, you will make a prediction as
to what the company’s stock price would be in three (3) months. You will also
review analysts’ estimates and predictions for the past year.

Requirements:

Step 1: Look at Ford’s Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Note the operating cash flow section is found in Note 25.

Step 2: Calculate the free cash flow.

Step 3: Compare your answer to any of the websites listed in
the directions.

Step 4: Make your prediction as to what the stock price will
be 3 months from now.

Step 5: Add to the document you started on Part A. Your final
submission will include the results from part A – D.

Part E:

Requirements: Answer the following questions and write your
final report.

Step 1: Is the company maximizing the wealth of its
shareholders? If not, what can they do to achieve this result?

Step 2: Share your tentative conclusions about whether or not
the company is maximizing the wealth of shareholders. Provide support for your
answer.

Step 3: Review your calculations and analysis of the following
6 ratios and financial measures: Current Ratio, Debt/Equity Ratio, Return on
Investment, Earnings per Share, Profit Margin and Free Cash Flow.

Step 4: Conclude your analysis with other observations on the
firm and whether your analysis differs from other analyses that are
available. Indicate if there is any other measure you would want in order
to make an investment recommendation.

Step 5: Make an Investment Recommendation. Assume you have
been asked by an investor, age 35, who wishes to invest in conservative stocks
that will provide some income now but is mainly interested in growth over the
next ten(10) years. Begin your final project essay with an investment
recommendation to this investor and support it with solid financial
analysis. Your report should include your conclusions related to each of
the five parts of this financial statement analysis project. You should
conclude with a statement on whether or not Ford would meet this investor’s
investment goals. Your essay should be 2,000 to 2,500 words, written in APA
style, and cite any your sources you used both in the body of the paper and in
a reference list found at the end of the paper.