EXAM PREPARATIONS

University

Semester Two Examination 2006

Faculty of Business and Economics

Department of Accounting and Finance

 

EXAM CODES:                    

TITLE OF PAPER:    FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS

EXAM DURATION:              3 hours

READING TIME:                  10 minutes

 

THIS PAPER IS FOR STUDENTS STUDYING AT: (office use only - tick where applicable)

 

o Berwick        o Clayton            o Peninsula     o Distance Education     o Open Learning

þ Caulfield       o Gippsland        o Sunway       o Enhancement Studies                                                        o Other (specify)

 

During an exam, you must not have in your possession, a book, notes, paper, calculator, pencil case, mobile phone or any other material/item which has not been authorised for the exam or specifically permitted as noted below.  Any material or item on your desk, chair or person will be deemed to be in your possession. You are reminded that possession of unauthorised materials in an exam is a disciplinable offence under Monash Statute 4.1.

 

AUTHORISED MATERIALS

 

CALCULATORS                                                                        þ YES                      o NO

(Permitted calculators: Citizen SRT-135, Casio FX82MS scientific calculator, the Casio FX82AU scientific calculator, and Sharp EL-735 financial calculator, or calculators with an 'approved for use' Faculty label)

 

OPEN BOOK                                                                              o YES                     þ NO

 

SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED ITEMS                                    o YES                     þ NO

if yes, items permitted are:

 

This paper consists of eight (8) questions printed on four (4) pages

 

STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

 

PLEASE CHECK THE PAPER BEFORE COMMENCING.  THIS IS A FINAL PAPER.

 

 

STUDENT ID:  …………………………...                        DESK NUMBER: …………………….

 

 

THIS EXAMINATION PAPER MUST BE INSERTED INTO THE ANSWER BOOK AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PAPER.  NO EXAMINATION PAPERS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE EXAMINATION ROOM

 

Question 1      Industry Analysis

 

The purpose of an industry analysis is to evaluate the factors that affect industry profitability.  The profitability of an industry may be influenced by the industry structure whereby some industries are, by structure, more profitable than others.

 

Required:

 

1.                  Describe a fragmented industry.

2.                  Explain whether this type of industry will result in higher or lower profitability.

3.                  Justify your answer to part (2) above.

(2.5 + 2.5 + 2.5 = 7.5 marks)

 

Question 2      Earnings management

 

Earnings management occurs when companies over (under)-state reported earnings to meet certain goals including higher managerial bonus payments and influencing share prices.

 

Required:

 

Provide two reasons why managers may decide to under-state reported earnings.

(7.5 marks)

 

Question 3      Accounting Analysis: Implementation

 

In an effort to increase the share price, management team of XYZ Company has overstated closing inventory of 2005 by $5,000,000 and consequently the 2005 earnings performance of the company has been overstated by the same amount.

 

 Required:

 

Briefly explain how this overstatement affects the following, and by how much (tax rate is 30%):

 

1.                  Closing book value of equity at the end of 2005;

2.                  Reported earnings of 2006 (assuming no earnings management in 2006); and

3.                  Closing book value of equity at the end of 2006.

(5 + 5 + 5 = 15 marks)

 

Question 4      Return on Assets (ROA) Analysis

 

Operating ROA is a measure of how profitably a firm is able to deploy its operating assets to generate operating profits.

 

Required:

 

Briefly explain why time-series observations of ROE have a mean reverting pattern.

 

 (5 marks)

 

Question 5      Equity Beta

 

Equity beta is an important factor in determining cost of equity, which in turn is used in business valuation models.

 

Required:

 

1.                  Explain clearly how equity beta is estimated. In answering this question you must write down the relevant model and define the variables and coefficients in the model.

2.                  Present the model which is used to compute cost of equity. Define all variables and coefficients in that model.

3.                  Explain the role of cost of equity in a Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model?

 

 

(5 + 5 + 5 = 15 marks)

 

Question 6      Business Valuation

 

In valuing a business one can either value the common equity (ordinary shares) of the business or value the entire business (debt + equity = total assets).  Furthermore, different cash flow streams are used in valuation of equity and valuation of the entire business.

 

Required:

 

1.                  What discount rate and what cash flow stream are used in valuation of equity?

2.                   What discount rate and what cash flow stream are used in valuation of total assets (entire business)? 

(10 + 10 = 20 marks)

 

Question 7      Fundamental Beta

 

In circumstances where a company is not listed on the stock exchange or where a listed company does not have sufficient share price data points, historical beta cannot reliably be estimated.  One way of overcoming this problem is to use a fundamental beta.

 

Required:

           

1.                  Name the three factors that contribute to fundamental beta.

2.                  Explain clearly why these factors increase/decrease fundamental beta.

 (5 + 15 = 20 marks)

 

 

 

Question 8      Accounting Beta

 

Accounting beta can be used as an alternative to fundamental or historical beta.

 

Required:

 

1.                  Write down the model that estimates accounting beta.

2.                  Explain all variables in the model including the coefficients.

(5 + 5 = 10 marks)

 

 

 

END OF PAPER