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1. Apply to actual companies the basic knowledge and analytical techniques learned from our course.

2. Prepare common-size financial statements, comparative financial statements, and various profitability and risk ratios.

3. Compare the calculated results with competitors and across different years.

4. Summarize the analyses and make investment recommendations.

You will be analyzing the following firms:

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

For these firms, download the most recent annual report (10-K report) to begin your work. In 10-K reports, you can find companies basic information, financial statements, footnotes to the financials, and the management discussions and analyses. Please download the 10-K reports from the following web links:

10-K reports (fiscal year 2016) for Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000119312517104341/d265187d10k.htm

10-K reports (fiscal year 2015) for Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000119312516525847/d120289d10k.htm

10-K reports (fiscal year 2014) for Williams-Sonoma, Inc.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/719955/000119312515118009/d851953d10k.htm#tx851953_13

10-K reports (fiscal year 2016) for Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/278130/000119312517136345/d343458d10k.htm

10-K reports (fiscal year 2015) for Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/278130/000119312516556025/d133529d10k.htm

10-K reports (fiscal year 2014) for Pier 1 Imports, Inc.

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/278130/000119312515153179/d881010d10k.htm#toc881010_13

For your convenience, I also provided the balance sheet and income statement of each company for the most recent years at the end (page 5-8; Table 1-4). Please use them to prepare common-size financial statements and comparative financial statements.

Guidance

The required tasks are detailed below:

(1) Prepare common-size balance sheets and income statements for both companies. Note: Compute for the most recent THREE years.

(2) Prepare comparative analysis (i.e., change of percentage analysis) on income statement and balance sheet for both companies. You should compute for the most recent THREE years.

(3) Prepare ratio analyses (for the same THREE year time period) for both companies. At least, you should include the following ratios in your computations: (1) current ratio, (2) acid-test ratio, (3) receivables turnover, (4) inventory turnover, (5) asset turnover, (6) profit margin on sales, (7) rate of return on assets, (8) rate of return on common stock equity, (9) earnings per share, (10) payout ratio, (11) debt to total assets ratio, (12) times interest earned, (13) cash debt coverage ratio, and (14) book value per share.

(4) Comment on the analytical results of the two companies. Your comments should concentrate on the trends across the companies. In addition to contrasting the ratios between the companies, you should interpret the numbers and make suggestions as to why the ratio of one company might be higher/lower than the other.

(5) Write a conclusive summary on the firms you have studied. Based upon your conclusions, recommend the better performing firm for potential investment. Your conclusions should be based upon, and specifically reference, the analyses prepared in this report.

(6) Read sample project to get some ideas.

Report Format Requirements:

A. Report body requirements:

Cover page. List the title of the project, your names, and semester/year.

Abstract or Executive Summary. This is a separate page. It should cover the purpose of the project, the major findings, and the conclusions/recommendations, in summary form.

Table of Contents.

Main body. Use the following sequence for report content:

Introduction to the two companies and to the purpose of the report

Analytical section. This should include all your numerical analyses. This is where you will discuss the results of, comments on, and conclusions about the vertical and horizontal common-size statements, comparative analysis (i.e., change of percentage analysis), and the ratio analyses for both companies.

Comparisons of companies and all other analysis (observations and/or interpretations). (You may combine b and c if you wish, as long as both are well covered.)

Conclusions and recommendation for investment.

References. List all major reference sources.

Appendices. Include tables and graphs of your numerical analyses. For reference convenience, assign a title to each separate item, such as Table 1, Exhibit 1, etc.

B. Typesetting requirements:

Use size 12 font. Times New Roman is preferred.

Double space between lines.

Number pages in accordance with the APA style guide.

One inch on all sides.

Do not right justify text. Use left justify.

Minimum length: 8 pages. (Note: You can easily meet the minimum length requirement since you will have a lot of tables in the paper.)

The submitted work should be in ONE file with a word or pdf format. An Excel spreadsheet file is NOT acceptable.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Evidence of plagiarism will result in a grade of F to the course and be subject to appropriate disciplines.

NOTES:

A portion of your grade will be assessed based on the overall report quality, clarity, format, and cohesiveness.

A FREE RIDER in the group will not be tolerated. However, to report an alleged free rider, you should send me a formal written complaint. You should carefully manage your group over the semester to ensure that no teammate will take the chance of turning into a free rider. Try to contact/manage your teammates frequently and inform me if any member is not willing to participate the group work so we can address this issue ASAP. A free rider will receive his/her group project grades solely based on what he/she has contributed to the projects. If there is a free-rider in your group or a member drops the class, the rest of the group members are still expected to submit a COMPLETE paper.

Again, the balance sheet and income statements are provided at the end. Please use them to prepare common-size and comparative financial statements.

Table 1. Williams-Sonoma, Inc ----Balance Sheet

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
BALANCE SHEET
Fiscal Years 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
(In thousands)	FY 2016	FY 2015	FY 2014	FY 2013
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 213,713	$ 193,647	$ 222,927	330121
Restricted cash				14289
Accounts receivable, net	88,803	79,304	67,465	60,330
Merchandise inventories, net	977,505	978,138	887,701	813,160
Prepaid catalog expenses	23,625	28,919	33,942	33,556
Prepaid expenses	52,882	44,654	36,265	35,309
Deferred income taxes, net			130,618	121,486
Other assets	10,652	11,438	13,005	10,852
Total current assets	1,367,180	1,336,100	1,391,923	1,419,103
Property and equipment, net	923,283	886,813	883,012	849,293
Deferred income taxes, net	135,238	141,784	4,265	13,824
Other assets, net	51,178	52,730	51,077	54,514
Total assets	$ 2,476,879	$ 2,417,427	$ 2,330,277	2,336,734
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$ 453,710	$ 447,412	$ 397,037	404791
Accrued salaries, benefits and other liabilities	130,187	127,122	136,012	138,181
Customer deposits	294,276	296,827	261,679	228,193
Income taxes payable	23,245	67,052	32,488	49,365
Current portion of long-term debt			1,968	1,785
Other liabilities	59,838	58,014	46,764	38,781
Total current liabilities	961,256	996,427	875,948	861,096
Deferred rent and lease incentives	196,188	173,061	166,925	157,856
Long-term debt				1,968
Other long-term obligations	71,215	49,713	62,698	59,812
Total liabilities	1,228,659	1,219,201	1,105,571	1,080,732
Stockholders equity
Preferred stock: $.01 par value; 7,500 shares authorized; none issued				0
Common stock: $.01 par value; 253,125 shares authorized;
87,325 and 89,563 shares issued and outstanding at	873	896	919	941
January 29, 2017 and January 31, 2016, respectively
Additional paid-in capital	556,928	541,307	527,261	522,595
Retained earnings	701,702	668,545	701,214	729,043
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,903)	(10,616)	(2,548)	6524
Treasury stock at cost: 20 and 29 shares as of January 29, 2017 and January 31, 2016, respectively	(1,380)	(1,906)	(2,140)	(3,101)
Total stockholders equity	1,248,220	1,198,226	1,224,706	1,256,002
Total liabilities and stockholders equity	$ 2,476,879	$ 2,417,427	$ 2,330,277	2,336,734

Table 2. Williams-Sonoma, Inc --- Statement of Income

Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
STATEMENT OF INCOME
Fiscal Years 2016, 2015, 2014,2013
(In thousands)	FY 2016	FY 2015	FY 2014	FY 2013
E-commerce net revenues	$ 2,633,602	$ 2,522,580	$ 2,370,694	$ 2,115,022
Retail net revenues	2,450,210	2,453,510	2,328,025	2,272,867
Net revenues	5,083,812	4,976,090	4,698,719	4,387,889
Cost of goods sold	3,200,502	3,131,876	2,898,215	2,683,673
Gross profit	1,883,310	1,844,214	1,800,504	1,704,216
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,410,711	1,355,580	1,298,239	1,252,118
Operating income	472,599	488,634	502,265	452,098
Interest (income) expense, net	688	627	62	(584)
Earnings before income taxes	471,911	488,007	502,203	452,682
Income taxes	166,524	177,939	193,349	173,780
Net earnings	$ 305,387	$ 310,068	$ 308,854	$ 278,902

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