ACCTG 371 : Financial Statement Analysis

Business and Economics

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

How is financial statement information used to evaluate a firm's performance, risk and value? An opportunity to examine this question and to gain experience in evaluating performance, assessing risk and estimating value.

Course Overview

This is a financial statement analysis and valuation course in which profitability analysis and security valuation are emphasised. It is applications oriented and teaches students how to read, analyse, and interpret financial statement data to make informed business decisions. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: FINANCE 251 or 261, and ACCTG 211 or 292

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Distinguish the business strategies adopted by different businesses to create value for their shareholders (Capability 1 and 2)
  2. Demonstrate the role of financial statement numbers in assessing financial performance, which is used to prepare a forecast of future performance for the purpose of valuation (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  3. Apply financial models for predicting business failure and recognise the limitations of these models (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  4. Develop , appraise, and combine assumptions to forecast financial statements and free cash flows (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  5. Apply the free cash flow and residual income valuation models to business valuations (Capability 1 and 3)
  6. Formulate a framework for valuation using the multiples method and illustrate its relation to the free cash flow and residual income models for valuation (Capability 1, 2 and 3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Coursework 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Coursework
Test
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 4 hours of lectures and workshops, and 6 hours of self-study, including reading and thinking about the content and work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Learning Resources

The textbook for this course is Financial Statement Analysis and Valuation 4th ed., by Peter D. Easton, Mary Lea McAnally, Gregory A. Sommers, and Xiao-Jun Zhang (Cambridge Business Publishers, 2015). This textbook can be purchased from the University Bookshop.

Note that the textbook can also be purchased from Cambridge Business Publishers as an E-book for a 6 month access at USD65 (which might be a cheaper option) via this website link: https://mybusinesscourse.com/?code=5175-44950. As this is a special price, the publisher does not display custom pricing for eBooks on the main website. Students have to register a new account first. After creating the account, students will see the page to click on the Purchase Access for 6 months/ $65.00.

The library holds a large collection of financial statement analysis texts, which are useful to refer to. The library also has a subject librarian for accounting and finance who you can contact to discuss any of your library information needs.

Much of the coursework is posted on the Canvas Learning Management System, including the following:
• Powerpoint slides;
• Assignment questions and suggested solutions to these; and
• Other reference material, such as worked examples, extra note material, and additional readings.

Also, students are recommended to use the prescribed text book as their main study resource along with attending lectures. The lectures will follow closely the text book, which also has lots of questions/problems that students can use to practice their understanding of the material.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 25/06/2020 02:55 p.m.