Business Finance
Assignment #1
Descriptions:
In this assignment, students have an opportunity to learn the structure and organization of a company’s
annual report, an annual publication that public corporations must provide to shareholders to describe
their operations and financial conditions. The document illustrates how the firm communicates with its
shareholders and other stakeholders in the financial system in real-life.
Steps:
1. Select one of the public companies listed below.
2. Download the latest annual report (10K) of the company.
3. Read the document to understand the company’s operations and business strategy.
4. Based on non-financial information and qualitative data (i.e., no financial ratio), analyze the
firm’s strengths and weaknesses (only S&W in SWOT Analysis).
5. Write a one-page report summarizing your findings
Companies:
1. American Water Works Co.
2. ConocoPhilips
3. Cote
a Energy Inc.
4. Church & Dwight Co. Inc.
5. IQVIA Holdings Inc.
6. LAM Research Corp.
7. Metronic Inc.
8. United Health Group Inc.
9. Valero Energy Corporation
Deliverables:
The report is one page in length and should contain the following sections:
1. A description of the firm’s business operation and its corporate strategy along with notable facts
about the company.
2. The company’s strengths identified from non-financial information or qualitative data contained
in the annual report.
3. The weaknesses of the company based on non-financial information or qualitative data
presented in the annual report.
In your report, do not use other sources or just copy the content from the firm’s annual report. I want
you to describe the firm and your interpretation in your own words. Write the report so that someone
without strong technical or business background can understand.