su mba6010 weke 2-5 discussion june 2021

Week 2 Discussion

Investment Alternatives and Capital Budgeting Methodologies

Some companies' common stocks pay cash dividends, while others' do not. However, most bond issues do pay periodic interest. The preferred stock financing option also pays a dividend. Based on your readings, please respond to the following questions below:

 

From the investor's point of view, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the three investment alternatives—common stock, bonds, and preferred stock. Why would an investor select an investment in bonds over common stock, even if the return on the common stock investment is higher?

From the firm's perspective, evaluate the pros and cons of using different combinations of debt, common stock, and preferred stock to raise funds. Why do some firms use preferred stock and others do not? Is it a matter of subjective preference, or are there sound theoretical reasons for the use of specific sources of funding?

How does an investor's evaluation of the investment alternatives differ from the evaluation by a company trying to raise funds?

Among all the capital budgeting methodologies and their respective rules, which would you use and why? What are the advantages of one rule over another? Does the size or the nature of an investment have any impact on which method should be used? Why or why not? How might a rule be improved to make it more effective?

Comment on the postings of two of your classmates. Do you agree with their position? Why or why not?

 

Week 3 Discussion

Forecasting and Financing Projects

On the basis of the knowledge you gained from your readings, respond to the following questions:

It can be difficult to accurately forecast a project's cash flows because many risk factors may be present. As an analyst, what will you do to increase the accuracy of the project's cash flow forecasts? Provide details of the techniques that you would use and explain why.

Some firms use more debt in their capital structure than other firms. Some would argue that the use of debt in the capital structure enhances the owners' return on their investments. Others would say that the use of debt only increases the level of risk for the owners of the company. Which argument do you agree with and why? Explain your position. If debt is to be used when raising funds for a capital investment, how would you determine the proper level of debt? Explain your answer using examples.

Comment on the postings of two of your classmates. Do you agree with their position? Why or why not?

 

 

Week 4 Discussion

Answer the following questions:

 

To determine how well an investment is doing, it is important to take into account its return and risk. Rational investors seek to obtain the highest amount of return from an investment with the least amount of risk. The CAPM and the arbitrage pricing theory are alternative methods of identifying the risk and return relationship in an investment or groups of investments. What are the similarities and differences between the two models? In your opinion, which model would be most appropriate for evaluation of a portfolio of investments? Why? Which method would you recommend for a single investment project? Why? Provide your rationale using examples.

When a firm uses debt in its capital structure, it is referred to as a leveraged firm and this concept is referred to as financial leverage. Operating leverage refers to a firm's fixed costs of production. The higher the fixed costs, the greater the degree of operating leverage that is being employed. How does the degree of operating and financial leverage affect the beta of a firm? For a firm just beginning operations, what recommendations would you make about the use of debt in the capital structure? How would these recommendations affect the company's beta coefficient and the investors' required rate of return? Would your recommendations change if the firm were a long-established operation? Why or why not?

Comment on the postings of two of your classmates. Do you agree with their position? Why or why not?

 

 

Week 5 Discussion

Answer the following questions:

 

Because of a new product line, your company's sales over the last few months have increased significantly. As a result, the amount of cash held by the company has increased to levels never experienced before. An evaluation by the company's financial staff concludes that the company is holding too much cash. This situation is reported to the stockholders.

Explain how you think the stockholders would react to this information.

Discuss the options you have to deal with the concerns of the stockholders without creating any additional risk.

Just-in-time (JIT) inventory systems were first developed by the Japanese and quickly adopted around the globe by many large firms. One of the first to adopt the system in the United States was the automobile industry.

In your opinion, is the JIT system a system that can and should be adopted by small, individually owned firms? Why or why not?

Would the smaller firms have any advantage in terms of their ability to use such a system? Why or why not?

Describe the benefits of employing such a system in the economy.

Comment on the postings of two of your classmates. Do you agree with their position? Why or why not?

Explain your answers using examples. Comment on the postings of at least two of your classmates. Do you agree with their position? Why or why not?