Go to the Hoover’s business online Web site at http://www.hoovers.com and click on “Companies A–Z.” Identify a firm such as Google, Inc. (ticker symbol: GOOG) or Applebee’s International, Inc. (ticker symbol: APPB).

A. Obtain the most recent three years of income statements and balance sheets. Analyze the changes in operating and financial performance, if any, by applying the ratio analyses covered in this chapter.

B. Identify the industry that the firm being studied resides in and the major competitors. Obtain financial statement information for one or more competitors and conduct a ratio analysis of each competitor analyzed.