The module will be assessed by means of a 8000 word report analysing a UK company-Michael Page International. The report should provide an analysis of the company's strategic, financial and stock market performance over the last five years. The report should be addressed to a potential investor in the company's shares and should include your recommendation to that investor as to the desirability of investing (or not) in the short, medium or long term.
In order to satisfactorily complete the assessment, you will need to conduct in depth research into the company, the industry in which it operates and its competitors. You will be given detailed information as to how to conduct this research in lectures and from suggested reading.
The website of the company: http://www.page.com/investors.aspx
The main body of your report should be structured into the following sections:
1. Introduction
This section should provide a brief company history, an outline of the industry and of the company's position within it.
2. Strategic Analysis
The strategic analysis should contain reference to the broad environment, industry and competitors, and, most importantly, to the company itself. It should include:
a. A PEST(LE) analysis
b. An analysis of the industry including a Porter's Five Forces analysis
c. An analysis of the company's strategy with comparisons to its competitors
The analysis could include for example pricing policies, product range, market position, etc. with that of its competitors.
3. Financial Statement Analysis
This section should offer an analysis of the company's financial performance over the last five years. Crucially it should make use of your knowledge of the company's strategic direction, its industry position and the broad environment. This section should include:
a. Analysis of financial statements, making comparisons with competitors and industry norms.
b. Identification of any new accounting policies/treatments, which may impact on future profitability.
c. Identification of problems of comparison caused by particular accounting policies/treatments.
4. Stock Market Analysis
This section should offer an analysis of the company's share price performance over the last five years. You will need to use your strategic and financial knowledge of the company as a basis for your analysis.
a. Analysis of share price performance relative to the industry and the stock market as a whole.
b. An evaluation of stock market indices (price-earnings ratios, dividend yield, etc.) in comparison with competitors, sector and market averages.
5. Conclusion and Recommendations
The conclusion section should draw together your findings in order to make arecommendation to a potential investor in the company's shares.
The report must be word processed or typed. Calculations (for example, ratios) should be contained in tables in the report and will not count towards the word limit. Appendices and footnotes will not count towards the approximately 8000 word limit. All sources of information should be identified in the report. A full bibliography containing all references (books, newspaper reports with dates, company reports, market research reports, etc.) must be included with the report.
Attachment:- detail.docx