Financial Ratios
Thirty years ago a Fortune 500 .S. company would develop strategies with a focus on capital projects located primarily in this country. With the rise of globalization however, companies must now incorporate multi-country initiatives to take advantage of opportunities in revenue growth as well as cost savings. Evaluating capital investment opportunities can take a myriad of forms: return on investment, service price of capital, payback period, return on capital, return on equity, and internal rate of return. Of these options; return on capital, return on equity, and internal rate of return provide "well-known and trusted benchmarks used by investors and institutions to decide between competing investment options" (Investopedia. Return on Equity vs. Return on Capital N.D.)

Return on equity and return on capital have a commonality to them and describe "how much earnings a company can generate from assets" (Investopedia, N.D.). "Return on equity measures a company's profit as a…...

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Understanding internal rate of return first depends on comprehension of the concept of net present value. Net present value "compares the value of a dollar today to the value of that same dollar in the future, taking inflation and returns into account" (Investopedia. Net Present Value N.D.). Net present value "involves calculating the present value of future expected cash flows from an investment using the company's cost of capital or discount rate" (Marshall, D. & McManus, W. 1996). The discount rate may also be thought of as the hurdle rate "because it represents the minimum rate of return required for an investment to yield a positive net present value" (Marshall, D. & McManus, W. 1996). An investment which yields a positive net present value is likely a capital project that a company will choose to fund.

The internal rate of return of a capital project is "the actual rate of return that will be earned by the proposed investment, and is the discount rate at which the present value of cash flows is equal to zero" (Marshall, D. & McManus, W. 1996). The IRR which is calculated is compared to the firm's discount rate, and if it exceeds this hurdle rate the proposed investment would be considered desirable. An IRR less than the hurdle rate would not be a recommended investment. As an example, assume a company has a cost of capital of 16%, if a future stream of earnings at that discount rate had a net present value of 1,000,000 dollars, then the IRR must exceed 16%. At some point the net present value will equal zero and that is the IRR.

Firms will utilize net present value, internal rate of return, and return on equity in evaluating their capital budgeting decisions. Procter & Gamble and Kimberly Clark respectively 22 and 126 on the Fortune 500 list are the two largest global consumer product companies (CNNMoney.com.2010). These firms have operations strategically placed around the world to maximize revenue generation and realize cost saving advantages. When considering an overseas investment the IRR and ROE calculations can be particularly useful. The cost of capital or hurdle rate for a project in Africa may be

Mattel Analysis
The History, Operations, and Structure of Mattel, Inc.

Founded by uth and Elliot Handler and Harold ("Matt") Matson in 1945, Mattel, Inc. has grown from its origins as a humble picture-frame manufacturer operated from a garage to become one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of toy products (About Us, 2004). This paper provides an overview of the history, operations and structure of Mattel, Inc. today, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

(hereinafter "Mattel"). The company's portfolio of brands and products are grouped in the following categories:

Mattel. The company's brands in this segment include Barbie (which includes Barbie fashion dolls and accessories); Other Girls Brands (which includes Polly Pocket! And ello); Wheels (which includes Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Tyco /C vehicles and playsets), and Entertainment (which includes Nickelodeon, Harry Potter, Yu-Gi-Oh!, He-Man and Masters of the Universe, Batman, Justice League, and games and puzzles).

Fisher-Price. These brands…...

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References

About Us. (2004). Mattel, Inc. Available:  http://mattel.com/about_us/history/default.asp ?

f=true.

Dubin, S.C. (1999). Who's That Girl? The World of Barbie Deconstructed. In The Barbie

chronicles, A living doll turns forty. Yona Zeldis McDonough (ed). New York: Simon &Schuster.

Fortune and Machiavelli
Fortune in the Prince

During the Medieval and Renaissance periods political theorists often wrote books which were intended to be used as instructions for the rulers of the time. This was referred to as the "mirror of princes" technique, and the most famous of these instructional manuals was written by Niccolo Machiavelli and called The Prince. Although some versions of this book were around as early as 1513, the official printed version of his book actually was published in 1532, some time after the author's death. In his book The Prince, Macchiavelli discussed everything a ruler should know from how to gain and keep power to the qualities which make for a good prince. The author even discussed the concept of fortune, or luck, and how it should be dealt with by a prince. Fortune, according to Macchiavelli, was a real force of nature which a prince could, through…...

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Works Cited

Machiavelli, Niccolo. "The Prince." The Project Gutenberg. Trans. W.K. Marriott. 11 Feb. 2006. Web 7 May 2011.

 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1232/1232-h/1232-h.htm

Fortune 500 Company Analysis
Wal-Mart is the number one retailer in the world in both sales and earnings, dwarfing many of its retail competitors. It offers a full assortment of products ranging from clothing to electronics. It currently has 6000 locations predominately within the United States with over $312.4 Billion in net sales during 2006. In addition to its strong domestic presence, Wal-Mart has expanded aggressively to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico with over 1000 locations within those countries. This expansion can potentially create greater economies of scale for Wal-Mart services and merchandise. The synergies created by expansion will also drive profitability in the future by providing goods and services at even lower costs to consumers. In order to enter foreign markets successful, Wal-Mart engages in both joint ventures and acquisitions. By utilizing this method, Wal-Mart intends to leverage foreign retailer's market knowledge with its own core competencies of merchandising and…...

Fortune 500 Company: Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart is known as a "super store" and a place to engage in one-stop shopping for the home and individual. For example, the store sells groceries and pet supplies, health and beauty items, crafts and school supplies, home repair tools and products, electronics, furniture for the home and yard, health and beauty supplies and has an in-store pharmacy, among many other products. However, the perspective of Sam Walton might be slightly different. Sam Walton might feel as though the goal and overall objective of Wal-Mart is to give the customer exactly what they want. As Walton said, "The secret of successful retailing is to give your customers what they want. And really, if you think about it from your point-of-view as a customer, you want everything: a wide assortment of good-quality merchandise; the lowest possible prices; guaranteed satisfaction with what you buy; friendly, knowledgeable service; convenient hours;…...

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References

Bangs, D. (2002). Market Planning Guide. New York: Dearborn Publishing.

Hollis, N. (2008). The Global Brand: How to Create and Develop Lasting Brand Value in the World. New York: The Global Brand.

Walmart.com. (2012). Sam Waltom. Retrieved from Walmart.com:  http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/heritage/sam-walton

fortune 500 Co.
The company that I am writing about is Starbucks. This company operates in the quick service restaurant industry. With $14.89 billion in systemwide global sales, Starbucks is the #3 firm in the industry and by far the number one with a coffee focus (Oches, 2012). According to the company's most recent annual report, the United States has 62% of stores, but they have recorded double digit growth in Asia for 11 consecutive quarters. Other major markets for the company are Canada, the UK, Japan and China. The company also has licensed beverages, which are available in more stores than there are Starbucks shops, and furthermore they source their key ingredient in at least a dozen other countries where they have no retail operations.

History

Starbucks was founded in 1971 in Seattle. In 1982, Howard Schultz, an coffee equipment sales person, visited the shop and decided to join the company. He…...

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References

Ahrens, F. (2009). Starbucks closing 300 stores, laying off nearly 7000. Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2014 from  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/economy-watch/2009/01/starbucks_closing_hundreds_of.html 

Boyle, M. (2013). Starbucks pays $15.4 million UK corporation tax amid backlash. Bloomberg. Retrieved January 19, 2014 from  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-24/starbucks-pays-15-4-million-u-k-corporation-tax-amid-backlash.html 

Harrison, V. (2013). Starbucks in hot water over China prices. CNN Money. Retrieved January 19, 2014 from  http://money.cnn.com/2013/10/21/news/companies/starbucks-china-pricing/ 

Mead, C. (2013). Starbucks raises $750 million with bond sale after settlement. Bloomberg. Retrieved January 19, 2014 from  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-02/starbucks-said-to-plan-750-million-bond-sale-after-settlement.html

Fortune 500 Company Analysis
In a capitalistic society such as America, business is very important in regards to the countries overall prosperity. Business is the driver of innovation, employment, cash inflows and a higher quality of life for all stakeholders involved. In this coming election year, employment and business is of particular interest to both political parties. Both parties realize the importance of business in regards to the growth of America. Both large and small businesses will be critical to this growth. The opportunities that are presented to both these segments will be important as the country continues to innovate and grow.

To begin, what is considered, "small" in regards to business? The Small Business Administration has established two widely used size standards which include 500 employees for most manufacturing and mining industries and $7.0 million in average annual receipts for most nonmanufacturing industries. However, many exceptions exist. Below are just a…...

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References

1) "Small Business and Local Preference Program." Metro. Washington Metro Area Transit Authority. Web. 27 Apr. 2012. .

2) Birch, D. (1979). The job generation process. Unpublished Report, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, prepared for the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington D.C.

3) Birch, David (1987), Job Creation in America, How our smallest companies put the most people to work, The Free Press, New York

4) Edmiston, Kelly. "The Role of Small and Large Businesses in Economic Development." Economic Review 1 (2010): 1-93. KansasCityFed.org. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.

Fortunes of Beauty
Daniel Defoe's Roxana, or the Fortunate Mistress is an analysis of beauty on many different levels. Most importantly, it is a look at how closely a real woman can compare to an ideal. Throughout much of Western History, notions of beauty have been intimately connected with a whole series of particular characteristics. These qualities transcend the merely physical. A Greek statue is a beautiful work of art -- it is flawlessly executed, has perfect proportions, and -- in the case of the true Classical masterpiece -- stands entirely alone; a self-contained image of virtue captured and immobilized. The viewer reacts to not only the physical perfection of the work of art, but even more powerfully, to the inner emotions that the work inspires. Curiously enough, these inner feelings are, in a way, not emotional at all. The Greek ideal of beauty is entirely rational, even mechanical. One…...

In terms of working in a Web 2.0 start-up, it appears the best ones are those that compliment existing business processes including transaction management. The author points out that these Web 3.0 start-ups are much more attuned to unmet business process needs and therefore stand a better chance to surviving and growing in the midst of challenging economic times. The conversational nature of Twitter, the threading of conversations on FriendFeed and the Facebook and MySpace approaches to defining relationships still defies monetization. For this reason alone it would be best to seek employment and begin a career with a Web 3.0 company is focused not on enabling collaboration so much as they need to be focused on how to meet unmet needs and deliver value over the long-term.

eferences

Jessi Hempel (2009, January). Web 2.0 Is So Over. Welcome to Web 3.0. Fortune, 159(1), 36. etrieved January 30, 2009, from ABI/INFOM Global…...

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References

Jessi Hempel (2009, January). Web 2.0 Is So Over. Welcome to Web 3.0. Fortune, 159(1), 36. Retrieved January 30, 2009, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1622579851). Accessed from the Internet on January 31, 2009 from location:

 http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/07/technology/hempel_threepointo.fortune

Business Data Analysis
Tabel 1.0: data concerning the 30 fastest -- growing companies as listed on March 16, 2005, on the Fortune magazine website

Rank

Company

EPS Growth

Revenue Growth

Total Return

InVision Technologies

eResearch Technology

New Century Financial

Central European Distribution

eBay

National Medical Health Card Sys

Countrywide Financial

Neoware Systems

Friedman Billing Ramsey Group

Bradley Pharmaceuticals

Middleby

Hovnanian Enterprises

Websense

Sanders Morris Harris Group

Career Education

American Healthways

United PanAm Financial

FTI Consulting

Jarden

Par Pharmaceutical

Capital Title Group

Advanced Neuromodulation

46%

24%

Possis Medical

76%

38%

42%

Symantec

85%

30%

59%

25

33%

32%

Chico's FAS

47%

43%

66%

Rewards Network

29%

38%

Fidelity National Financial

64%

38%

38%

NetBank

60%

-1%

Electronic Arts

32%

24%

Source: Fortune magazine website

1. Develop a stem-and-leaf display of the revenue growth percentages for the 30 fastest-growing companies and describe the shape of the distribution.

Stem

Leaf

9

13

8

77

7

6

5

4

0334689

3

02335889

Stem-and-Leaf Display

Revenue growth percentages for the fastest growing companies show that most firms clustered in the 30% to 40% range. The remaining firms were fairly evenly distributed across the next three bands at 50%, 60%, and 70%. There is a nice short tail in the 80% to 90% bands. Only two firms performed below the median, in the 20% range. [See link for examples of many…...

Boeing to Pieces, Fortune writer, Jerry Useem, focuses on the crisis at once the world largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and the biggest U.S. defense contractor, which had led the company into a nightmarish situation. Boeing that was undoubtedly the leader in its field is now suffering from declining profits while its leadership ethics are being questioned by the public and other stakeholders. How did a company that never had any serious rivals for a ling time suddenly became a vague entity and is positioned very low in the professional ethics index. These are some of the questions that Useem tries to answer by focusing on Boeing's recent history and Philip Condit's seven-year tumultuous reign. After reading the article, it becomes absolutely clear that Boeing did not suffer because of European Airbus or because of diversification, but the real problem existed at the top. Boeing suffered from poor leadership,…...

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REFERENCE:

Philip Kotler, Marketing Management, 11th edition, Northwestern University, Prentice Hall, 2003

Thirdly I would want to know about his or her motivation and drive. Is it money you are after? There should be some evidence in his or her background as to how motivated the person is towards career goals and overall executive success. The fourth most important thing for a candidate to show would be conscientiousness. There should be proof of a candidate's conscientiousness in the materials presented prior to the interview. Once those four general categories have been covered, there are specific personality characteristics that foreshadow a person's drive and character. Interview techniques should be geared around a grasp of the candidate's personality. After that, a candidate's health history is germane to the application, and also, how quickly does he or she learn new tasks? What knowledge does he or…...

fter all, Nevada -- especially Clark County -- experienced astronomical growth during the good years preceding the crisis, and the correction during the current lean years will necessarily be of the same proportions. Still, the article makes it clear that things will not be looking up for Nevada -- or the rest of the country of which Nevada is currently a good indicator -- for some time. Other issues complicating Nevada's recovery are detailed, such as a diversifying population with different needs and political demands, and the increasing face of lawlessness that the state and its central city promotes (such as in the "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" campaign) which dissuades some potential businesses from moving to the state. In general, however, this article focuses on the numbers of the situation, and does an excellent job of detailing the causes of the current financial meltdown.
Economist. (2009). "Wheel…...

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According to this article in the Economist's February 5th print edition, fewer American states are suffering more than Nevada, and that is largely due to the fact that Nevada was archetypal in the causes of the current financial crisis (Economist, 2009). Heavy development of both casinos and large, expensive homes in the suburban areas of Las Vegas was fueled in the past few years by cheap credit and the misguided belief that the good times could never end -- a belief that seems to accompany every economic bubble (Economist, 2009). Not surprisingly, reality disagreed with the belief of the developers and their investors; Clark County, which contains Las Vegas and 70% of Nevada's population, suffered one of the highest home foreclosure rates in the country during 2008. As part of the fallout, home prices in the area have fallen by over forty-one percent, and still show no signs of stabilizing anytime soon (Economist, 2009).

Many in the state claim that the figures make the situation look worse than it is, however. After all, Nevada -- especially Clark County -- experienced astronomical growth during the good years preceding the crisis, and the correction during the current lean years will necessarily be of the same proportions. Still, the article makes it clear that things will not be looking up for Nevada -- or the rest of the country of which Nevada is currently a good indicator -- for some time. Other issues complicating Nevada's recovery are detailed, such as a diversifying population with different needs and political demands, and the increasing face of lawlessness that the state and its central city promotes (such as in the "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" campaign) which dissuades some potential businesses from moving to the state. In general, however, this article focuses on the numbers of the situation, and does an excellent job of detailing the causes of the current financial meltdown.

Economist. (2009). "Wheel of fortune." Retrieved 9 February 2009.  http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13061481&source=hptextfeature

Fortune 500 Company: TSLA Ticker: TSLA
Current Stock Price: $290.71
Market Cap: 49.119B
P/E: 147.58
Dividend/Yield: N/A;N/A
Enterprise Value: 4.93
Beta: 0.96
Stock Split: No
Closing price last five days: $291.21, $287.71, $293.50, $300.10, $290.24
52 week high: $389.61
Book Value per Share: $11.58
Analysts’ Ratings: 4 strong buy, 4 buy, 8 hold, 6 underperform
Target Price: Low of $180 to High of $470, with the average at $317.04
Avg. revenue estimate for next year: 26.85B
Significant news: Tesla is ramping up Model 3 production; Tesla is working on a semi

Buy or Sell TSLA? Recommendation: SELL

I would not recommend investing in this stock. TSLA is currently the most shorted stock on the market: investors are bearish on Tesla, as the CEO Elon Musk has turned it into a cult stock with an unjustifiable P/E and a lot more empty promises at his back than actual delivery. While TSLA has made enough in revenues to make it to the Fortune 500, the company has still yet…...

Production

Production in the corporation is undertaken through guidance on the market need analysis and the research and development aspects of the corporation. The perspective in place of production is to consider market needs and keep innovating products in a way to ensure higher prospect in customer loyalty and lager market share. In this venture the integration of production in product development in accordance to the market needs put the company at the fore front to attract higher level of revenues. Different divisions within the corporation undertake to develop product in line with the corporation core objectives and the market needs.

eferences

Axson, D.A.J. (2010). Best Practices in Planning and Performance Management: adically ethinking Management for a Volatile World. . United States: Wiley.

Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G.J. (2009). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. London: McGraw Hill.

loLevin, I., P.,, & Levin, a., M.,. (2007). Modeling the ole of Brand Alliances in the…...

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References

Axson, D.A.J. (2010). Best Practices in Planning and Performance Management: Radically Rethinking Management for a Volatile World. . United States: Wiley.

Hofstede, G., & Hofstede, G.J. (2009). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. London: McGraw Hill.

loLevin, I., P.,, & Levin, a., M.,. (2007). Modeling the Role of Brand Alliances in the Assimilation of Product Evaluation. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 9(1), 43-52.

Loosemore, M.D., a. & Lingard, H. (2003). Human resource management in construction industry: strategic and operational approaches. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Harvard Business Review has some of the best in-depth reviews of individual companies and may offer you some of the information that you seek about an individual Fortune 500 company’s culture.  You could start by looking at individual aspects of what is considered part of successful corporate culture and then look for articles or essays about those different facets of corporate culture, which could be a spring-board for an in-depth analysis.

If we were looking at a Fortune 500 company and wanted to find a source of an in-depth look at its corporate culture, we would search for....

Title Suggestions for Essay on Fun, Humor, and Laughter in Life

1. The Alchemy of Fun, Humor, and Laughter: A Journey of Joy
2. Unveiling the Transformative Power of Laughter: A Reflection on Its Significance in Life
3. Exploring the Interplay of Fun, Humor, and Laughter: A Cornerstone of Human Well-being
4. The Vital Trio: Fun, Humor, and Laughter as Essential Elements of a Fulfilling Existence
5. The Joyful Trinity: Reflections on the Intertwined Nature of Fun, Humor, and Laughter
6. The Elusive Elixir of Laughter: Its Therapeutic and Transformative Effects on Mind and Spirit
7. In the Realm of Fun, Humor, and Laughter: A Philosophical Exploration....

1. The Evolution of the Ferris Wheel: From Invention to Icon

2. Riding High: A Look at the History of the Ferris Wheel

3. Wheels of Wonder: Tracing the Origins of the Ferris Wheel

4. Spinning Through Time: A Historical Overview of the Ferris Wheel

5. The Ferris Wheel Phenomenon: A Journey Through its History

6. Turning Point: The Story Behind the Invention of the Ferris Wheel

7. From Chicago to the World: The Global Impact of the Ferris Wheel

8. A Circular History: Exploring the Development of the Ferris Wheel

9. The Thrill of the Ride: An Exploration of the Ferris Wheel's History

10. Revolutionizing Entertainment: How the....

The Hundred Years' War: A Tumultuous Conflict that Shaped Medieval Europe

The Hundred Years' War was a protracted conflict between England and France that spanned from 1337 to 1453, leaving an indelible mark on the political, social, and military landscapes of medieval Europe. The term "Hundred Years' War" is a modern historiographical designation, as contemporaries referred to the conflict as the "Great War" or the "English War."

Origins and Causes:

The roots of the war can be traced to the complex feudal relationships between the French monarchy and the English kings, who held extensive lands in France. Edward III, King of England (1327-1377),....