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About this Assignment The purpose of financial forecasts is to assess current and future fiscal conditions to inform policy and other important decisions. Financial forecasts are fiscal management tools that presents estimated information based on past, current, and projected financial conditions. This assignment will measure your understanding of the purpose for, and importance of financial forecasts and how they contribute to decision making. Before beginning the assignment, please read the rubrics carefully to understand the expectations and how your work will be graded. Please write your answers succinctly and remain on topic, answering only to what is asked. Problem Set Stock Price Forecast Problem # 1: Refer to the stock price forecast table provided and any other resource material you deem necessary to address the following: · Summarize the forecast using 6-10 brief bullet points · In 100-200 words explain how the forecasters might have utilized the historical data for the stock price to forecast future stock prices and the methodology for forecasting that the forecaster might have used. · What assumptions did the forecaster use? What might be some of the rational for making the assumptions? How would different assumptions affect the forecast? (100-200 words) · If you were advising investors regarding the organization's stocks, what would you tell them? Comment on when, and how much (if any) investment should be done, the return they can expect, time frames, and possible risks. (100-200 words) Problem # 2: For this question, please refer to the Dino's After School Trial Balance with ending totals for December 31, 2014 in the table below: Account Balance ($) Checking 15,220 Savings 58,500 Money Market 41,650 Pre-Paid Rent 5,400 Accounts Receivable 81,000 Accounts Receivable Allowances -6,500 Machinery 122,600 Equipment 80,300 Automobiles 67,500 Accounts Payable 60,000 Loans Payable 21,300 Equity 384,370 1. Using an Excel Spreadsheet, create the Balance Sheet for Dino's After School. 2. Using the information obtained from your Balance Sheet, calculate any one (1) liquidity and any one (1) leverage ratio. 3. Comment on the financial position of the organization, specific to the two ratios you calculated. What is the main reason that Dino's (and other organizations) need a Balance Sheet? (100-200 words) Problem # 3: Please refer to the corporate tax rates table and the Gross Profit Chart below: Account Balance ($) 0 to 50,000 15% 50,000 to 75,000 $7,500 + 25% of the amount over 50,000 75,000 to 100,000 $13,750 + 34% of the amount over 75,000 100,000 to 335,000 $22,250 + 39% of the amount over 100,000 335,000 to 10,000,000 $113,900 + 34% of the amount over 335,000 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 $3,400,000 + 35% of the amount over 10,000,000 15,000,000 to 18,333,333 $5,150,000 + 38% of the amount over 15,000,000 18,333,333 and up 35% Fiscal Year Gross Profit ($) June, 2009 - May, 2010 261,100 June, 2011 - May, 2012 277,500 June, 2012 - May, 2013 292,000 June, 2013 - May, 2014 300,900 1. Given the information provided here perform your own calculations to show the amount of corporate tax paid for each of the four (4) fiscal years covered in the table above. 2. Is there a pattern? Explain the pattern and what it may suggest about the future performance of the organization. How can this conclusion advise investors and organizational decision makers? 3. If there was a 20% reduction in the Gross Profit for fiscal year 6/12 - 5/13, how might this have changed the gross profit expectations for the 6/13 - 5/14 fiscal year? Provide rationale. 4. Calculate the total expected taxes that would have been paid for these two fiscal years, with the 20% reduction in 6/12 - 5/13 and the resultant expected change in the 6/13 - 5/14 gross profit. Problem # 4: Explain the concept of departmentalized accounting and the importance of collaboration between departments within an organization, to its success. You may use organizational examples. (200-350 words) Grading Rubric This assignment will be graded based on the following rubrics: Category Unacceptable Needs Improvement Good Excellent Total Possible Points Forecasting There is no summary, advice, or rationale or those given are unclear and illogical (0-2) Few parts of the summary, advice, and rationale are succinct and logical (3-6) Most of the summary, advice, and rationale are succinct and logical. (7-10) The summary, advice, and rationale are succinct and logical. (11-12) 12 Balance Sheet The formatting, calculations, and comments/conclusions are incorrect or non-existent (1-3) The formatting, calculations, and comments/conclusions are incorrect or non-existent (1-3) Most/many formatting, calculations, and comments/conclusions are correct, fairly well formulated and articulated (8-12) All or most formatting, calculations, and comments/conclusions are correct well formulated and articulated (13-15) 15 Taxes The calculations and analyses are either non-existent or incorrect. (0-3) Some of the calculations and analyses are correct and based on the information provided (4-7) The calculations and analyses are mostly correct and based on the information provided (8-12) The calculations and analyses are correct and based on the information provided (13-15) 15 Departmentalized Accounting Did not clearly articulate the necessity of departmentalized accounting nor the importance of co-ordination and collaboration. (0-1) Attempted to articulate the necessity of departmentalized accounting. (2) Satisfactorily articulates the necessity of departmentalized accounting and the importance of co-ordination and collaboration. (3) Clearly articulates the necessity of departmentalized accounting and the importance of co-ordination and collaboration (4-5) 5 Mechanics Incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and use of standard English grammar hinders understanding (0) Several/Many instances of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar (1) Few instances of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar (2) No or very few instances of incorrect spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and usage of standard English grammar (3) 3 50