Course Syllabus

University of Texas at Dallas

Financial Statement Analysis

Course Information
Course Number/Section AIM 4336 - 001
Course Title Financial Statement Analysis

Term Spring, 2011

Days & Times Monday, 4:00 PM – 6:45 PM
Room SOM 2.903

Professor Contact Information

Professor Dick Bowen
Email Address [email protected]
(preferred communication is via eLearning email)
Office Location SOM 4.410
Office Hours 2:00 – 4:00, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Appointment preferred.
Other Information Course and Project information in eLearning

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

Pre-requisites: AIM -2301, AIM -2302, AIM -3320, MATH -1326, MATH 2333

Course Description

The course will cover financial statements from a user’s perspective. Broad concepts will
be covered related to financial statements with application of different industries, and
companies, including a comparative analysis of various industries. This course is
designed to take the students beyond the routine filling of boxes with standard financial
ratios, calculated according to precise and inflexible definitions. The course emphasizes
the application of the concepts to real life situations, including ethical conduct.

The main goal is to provide students with a broad, practical perspective to work on
financial statement analysis to determine:

1. A reasonable assessment of the financial condition of the firm

2. What may be reasonable forecasts of its future position
3. Whether the firm is worthy of credit
4. The operation characteristics of the firm

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 1

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

1. Be able to assess the financial condition of a firm.

2. Be able to make a forecast of future trends based on analysis.
3. Be able to distinguish between various industry differences of key financial and operational
data along with key ratios.
4. Be able to describe the view of various parties, ie., CEO, CFO, Accountant, Lending Officers,
Investors, and Operational Management of various financial data and ratios
5. Be able to perform a complete analysis of a company and present clearly a business and
financial summary to a group.

Required Textbooks and Materials

 Financial Reporting & Analysis, 12th Edition, Charles Gibson, 2011, South-Western
Publishing. There have been significant changes from the earlier editions along
with additional materials. Do not use an earlier edition for this class.

 Course presentations will be in eLearning along with homework assignments.

 Solutions to identified problems in eLearning.

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Topics, Reading Assignments, Due Dates, Exam Dates

The class schedule is subject to change, based on the needs of the students. Class will be
composed of some lecture, discussion on case study and problems, and discussion on
current events. For each student to get the most of this class it is recommended that you
be in tune with events impacting the financial community. Many events are impacting the
corporate environment due to financial reporting issues. Reading of material such as the
Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Barrons, Money Magazine, etc. is strongly encouraged. It is
expected that students bring these issues to class for discussion as appropriate.

Additional readings and website references will be made during class. Students should
also keep abreast of all significant current events involving the company they have
chosen for their project so they can discuss during class.

Each chapter of the text has online multiple choice questions that should be completed.
These questions serve as a review of the material from the chapter, are for the benefit of
the students, and will not normally be turned in. The questions/answers will be required
to be turned in if they are included as part of a homework assignment (note later
discussion of homework assignments under “Late Work.”).

Class Schedule

The class schedule below lists the primary areas of discussion in class, and other material
will be brought in for discussion. Students should also keep up on the major class project
during the semester and ask questions related to the project and the respective chapters of
the assignment accordingly. Changes to the class and schedule will be discussed as the
need arises.

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 2

Class Schedule Topic Chapter
Date 1
1 Jan 10 Course Orientation; Class Project
Expectations
1 Introduction to Financial Reporting Chapter 1
2 Jan 24 Introduction to Financial Statements -- GAAP Chapter 2
2 SEC and International Accounting; Code of Chapters
Ethics; Balance Sheet 2-3
3 Jan 31 Balance Sheet; Assets, Amortization and Chapter 3
Depreciation Methodologies
3 Library Resources Presentation; Liabilities, Chapter 3
Leases and Bonds; Capital
4 Feb 7 Library Resources Project Due; Income Chapter 4
Statement; Statement Presentation; Cost of
goods Sold/Inventories
4 Individual Company Project Selection Due; Chapter 4
Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated
Subsidiaries; Stock Dividends/Splits
5 Feb 14 Basics of Analysis; Ratio Analyses Chapter 5
5 Trend and Common Sized Analyses Chapter 5
6 Feb 21 Liquidity of Short Term Assets Chapter 6
6 Inventory Cost – Cost of Goods Sold Chapter 6
7 Feb 28 Liquidity Analyses, Operating Cycle, etc. Chapter 6
7 Analyses related to Project Company Due,
Review for Test I

8 Mar 7 Test I – Chapters 1 – 6

8 Long Term Debt-Paying Ability Chapter 7
9 Mar 14 Other Operating Leverage Analyses Chapter 7
9 Overall Profitability Analyses Chapter 8
10 Mar 21 Profitability and Asset Utilization Chapter 8
10 Returns – Assets, Investment, Total Equity, Chapter 8
Common Equity
11 Mar 28 Analyses for the Investor Chapter 9
11 Financial Leverage Chapter 9
12 Apr 4 EPS and Dilution Chapter 9
12 Case Studies – Investor Earnings
Expectations
13 Apr 11 Statement of Cash Flows Chapter10
13 Investor Expectations of Cash Flows vs Chapter10
Dividends
14 Apr 18 Banking and Special Industry Analyses Chapter12
14 Project Paper Due, Special Industry Cases Chapter12
15 Apr 25 Review for Test II
16 May 2 Test II – Chapters 7 - 12

Note: Jan 17th is Martin Luther King Day – no classes

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 3

Grading Policy
Your grade will consist of the following:

Percent

Mid Term Test 25%

Final Test 30%
Homework and Class Participation 15%
Comprehensive Individual Project 30%
___
Total Points 100%

Your final letter grade will be determined as follows:

A+ = 97 – 100 B = 84 – 86 C– = 70 – 73
A = 94 – 96 B– = 80 – 83 D+ = 67 – 69
A– = 90 – 93 C+ = 77 – 79 D = 64 – 66
B+ = 87 – 89 C = 74 – 76 D– = 60 – 63
F = Below 60

Course Policies

Make-up exams
There are no excused absences from the exams without a written excuse from a doctor or the
academic dean. If there is a serious scheduling conflict, it is your responsibility to let the
instructor know well in advance.

Late Work
You will have one major assignment and a few additional assignments during the semester. All
homework must be turned in at the beginning of class. No late assignments will be accepted! The
homework assigned for each chapter will be posted in eLearning the week prior to the due date.
It is your responsibility to check eLearning regularly for assignments and any additional
communications from your instructor.

Special Assignments
You will have one assignment that is an evaluation of the financial resources available through
the library. You will additionally complete a course project paper, with the requirements for this
course project paper being posted in eLearning.

Class Attendance
Class attendance is highly recommended for you to understand all the course material that is
covered in class. Much of the course material will be communicated through classroom exercises
and current business readings discussed in class.

Classroom Citizenship
Respect your fellow students and keep cell phones off. If you have to talk to someone next to you
please share with the whole class or it is not appropriate. Laptop computers are to be used in
class only for taking or referring to class notes.

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 4

Field Trip Policies / Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities
No field trips are planned for the class. However, participation in professional student
organizations is highly encouraged and those organization typically have events and field trips.
This includes the FMA, UTD IIA Student Chapter, and Beta Alpha Psi along with others.

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations
for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and
each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern
student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained
in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and
Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and
in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating
Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship.
He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules,
university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the
standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or
criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because
the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the
student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual
honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or
material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other
source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see
general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the
web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues
concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university
encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email
address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 5

 UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD
furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses.
These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures
must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any
class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork
to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the
class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities,
of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments
of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to
resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the
grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain
primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at
that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the
respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the
respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not
resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of
Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic
Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic
appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at
the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade
must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the
required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the
specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities
equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the
Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 6

 Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments
necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary
to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for
students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example,
a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes
enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities.
The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members
to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special
accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for
the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are
exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding
the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to
take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period
equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the
instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A
student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a
failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of
observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has
been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the
student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or
his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative
intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
executive officer or designee.

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and
University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information
regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address given below.
Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus AIM 4336 Page 7