Module 1: Trading Report #1

• Due Sunday by 11:59pm
• Points 20
• Submitting a file upload
• File Types pdf

Assignment – Trading Report #1

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OVERVIEW

Course: FIN502 Managerial Finance
Assignment: Trading Report 1 (TR1)
Due Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026, by 11:59 PM CT
Total Points: 20 points (out of 60 total Trading Game points)
Course Objectives: CO2 (Analyze financial statements), CO5 (Compare financial securities)

Purpose

This assignment introduces you to stock market investing through hands-on practice. You will: – Set up a virtual trading portfolio on MarketWatch – Purchase at least 3 stocks – Analyze financial statements from 2 of your selected companies – Explain your investment decisions

What You Need

• MarketWatch Virtual Stock Exchange account (free at www.marketwatch.com)
• Access to company financial statements (available on Yahoo Finance, company investor relations websites, or SEC EDGAR database)
• Basic spreadsheet software (Excel, Google Sheets)

Submission Format

• Submit as a single PDF file via Canvas
• File name: FIN502_TR1_[YourLastName]_[YourFirstName].pdf
• Include all screenshots, tables, and written responses in one document
• Use clear headings for each section (Part A, Part B, Part C)

DIRECTIONS

Before You Begin

1. Create Your MarketWatch Account
   • Go to
   • Join the game for our class.
   • Use the password: finance
   • If you need more detailed instructions, use
2. Select Your Stocks
   • Choose at least 3 different stocks to purchase
   • Consider companies youe familiar with or interested in learning about
   • Ensure you can access their financial statements (publicly traded U.S. companies work best)
   • Try to diversify across different industries
3. Execute Your Trades
   • Complete all purchases between March 15-22, 2026
   • Each stock purchase should be at least $5,000 in value
   • Take screenshots of each transaction confirmation
4. Gather Financial Data
   • For 2 of your 3 stocks, locate the most recent annual report (10-K) or quarterly report (10-Q)
   • Youll need data from the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement

ASSIGNMENT STRUCTURE

This assignment has three parts:

• Part A: Transaction Log (3 points) – Document your stock purchases
• Part B: Financial Statement Analysis (10 points) – Analyze 2 companies in detail
• Part C: Portfolio Rationale (7 points) – Explain your overall investment strategy

Complete all three parts using the Answer Template provided below.

PART A: TRANSACTION LOG (3 points)

Instructions

Create a table documenting all stock purchases you made for this assignment. Include at least 3 different stocks.

Grading Criteria

• 3 points: Complete transaction log with all required information for at least 3 stocks
• 2 points: Transaction log missing 1-2 pieces of information
• 1 point: Transaction log incomplete or fewer than 3 stocks
• 0 points: No transaction log provided

Required Information

For each stock purchase, provide: 1. Stock ticker symbol 2. Company name 3. Purchase date 4. Number of shares purchased 5. Purchase price per share 6. Total investment amount 7. Percentage of total portfolio

Note: Include a screenshot of your MarketWatch portfolio showing all positions.

PART B: FINANCIAL STATEMENT ANALYSIS (10 points)

Instructions

Select 2 stocks from your transaction log and complete a detailed financial analysis for each company. Answer all questions for both companies.

Grading Criteria

This section is worth 10 points total (5 points per company analyzed).

For each company: – Question 1: 2 points – Question 2: 2 points – Question 3: 1 point

Questions (Answer for BOTH companies)

Question 1: Key Financial Metrics (2 points)

Extract and report the following metrics from the companys most recent financial statements:

From Income Statement: – Total Revenue – Net Income – Earnings Per Share (EPS)

From Balance Sheet: – Total Assets – Total Liabilities – Total Stockholders Equity

From Cash Flow Statement: – Operating Cash Flow

Grading: – 2 points: All 7 metrics provided with correct values and sources cited – 1 point: 5-6 metrics provided or minor errors in values – 0 points: Fewer than 5 metrics or no source cited

Question 2: Financial Ratio Analysis (2 points)

Calculate the following financial ratios using the data from Question 1:

1. Net Profit Margin = (Net Income Revenue) 100
   Interpretation: What percentage of revenue becomes profit?
2. Debt-to-Equity Ratio = Total Liabilities Total Stockholders Equity
   Interpretation: How much debt does the company use relative to equity?
3. Return on Assets (ROA) = (Net Income Total Assets) 100
   Interpretation: How efficiently does the company use its assets to generate profit?

Show your calculations for each ratio.

Grading: – 2 points: All 3 ratios calculated correctly with work shown – 1 point: 2 ratios calculated correctly or minor calculation errors – 0 points: Fewer than 2 ratios calculated or no work shown

Question 3: Financial Health Assessment (1 point)

Based on your analysis in Questions 1 and 2, answer the following:

Is this company financially healthy? Provide a brief assessment (3-5 sentences) that addresses: – Profitability (Is the company making money?) – Liquidity (Does it have positive cash flow?) – Leverage (Is the debt level manageable?)

Grading: – 1 point: Clear assessment addressing all three factors with specific reference to the metrics – 0 points: Vague assessment or missing key factors

PART C: PORTFOLIO RATIONALE (7 points)

Instructions

Write a brief explanation (fewer than 100 words) of your overall investment strategy for this portfolio.

Grading Criteria

• 7 points: Excellent rationale that clearly explains investment strategy, references specific financial metrics or company characteristics, demonstrates understanding of diversification or risk management, and is well-written
• 5-6 points: Good rationale that explains strategy and references some specific factors, but may lack depth or clarity
• 3-4 points: Basic rationale that provides general reasoning but lacks specific details or financial analysis
• 1-2 points: Minimal rationale that is vague or does not demonstrate thoughtful decision-making
• 0 points: No rationale provided or exceeds word limit significantly

Guiding Questions (You dont need to answer all of thesetheyre just to help you think)

• What was your overall investment strategy? (Growth? Value? Dividend income? Diversification?)
• Why did you choose these particular companies?
• How did financial statement analysis influence your decisions?
• What industries or sectors did you focus on, and why?
• What level of risk are you comfortable with?

Word Limit: Maximum 100 words

What to Submit?

The fillable PDF file Trading Report 1 Answer Template. Remember to rename it to the correct format.

Discussion post 1 SWOT analysis

Discussion – Discussion post 1 SWOT analysis (10 points)

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Pick a product of your choice, for example, Nike, Coca Cola, Chipotle, etc. Conduct a SWOT analysis of the selected product. Be detailed as you conduct your SWOT analysis and elaborate on all the 4 dimensions of SWOT analysis as you will be graded accordingly.

Also, remember, no two or more students can pick the same product for the SWOT analysis. If I see two students having a SWOT analysis on a same product, then the first student will be given credit and the second student who posted SWOT on the same product will be given zero. The discussion post is due by March 22, 11.59 PM CST. No late submissions will be accepted.

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