Company: British Sky Broadcasting
Topic: You are a security analyst in a large investment house and must write a report on a real stock of your choice, giving a buy, hold or sell recommendation, a la the Infineon example we examined in class. The report consists of a cover page featuring your recommendation, with current and target price, a graph of price performance over the last 3-5 years, current market cap, average daily turnover, and a brief, punchy rationale for your recommendation at the top. Beneath that is your table of headline numbers and ratios (two years history, three years projected), followed by greater amplification on the reasons for the recommendation on another page.
The following pages should include your more detailed three-year forecast model (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, with the two years of history), the standard ratios compared with a couple of peers in the same industry, and your discounted cash flow valuation.
Lastly, give a brief company description, a strategic (SWOT) analysis, a sector view and an industry competitive position.
Report: Your report should have 1500 to 3000 words, excluding tables and graphs. You should give a reasoned and persuasive rationale for your recommendation, using financial measures to back up your analysis. As outlined above, there should be a table of summary financials, with two years of history and three years of projections, incorporating headline income statement, balance sheet and cash flow items, along with major ratios. There should also be a table comparing your company’s performance indicators with comparable companies in the industry, to help justify your valuation. In preparing your report, please utilize Bloomberg, FT Online and other market resources as demonstrated in classes.
Modelling: You also need to supply a file that documents your modelling work, incorporating two years of history and three years of projections, in the form of more detailed income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement, along with major ratios. Provide also a discounted cash flow valuation. This should be a representative spreadsheet file.
Papers will be assessed as follows:
Business description: 5 points
Industry Overview & Competitive Positioning: 15 points
Investment Summary: 20 points
Valuation: 20 points
Financial Analysis: 20 points
Other Headings: 5 points
Investment Risks: 15 points
Total: 100 points