For the Case Study Assignment, select a publicly traded company by the end of week 1. Be sure that it is large enough so that it contains a lot of easily found financial information. Using this financial information, develop a report that analyzes the companys current finances and makes recommendations for the future. In addition to the company's internal financial reports, incorporate a minimum of three external financial resources. The paper should be double-spaced and adhere to either APA or MLA formatting. The complete Case Study Assignment will be due at the end of Week 6.

The Case Study is required to contain the following sections :

Executive Summary (1-2 pages): Provide a thorough and detailed executive summary

highlighting your chosen companys relevant financial points.

SWOT Analysis (2-3 pages): Use financial sources such as Yahoo Finance, company annual reports, and other financial sources to develop your SWOT Analysis.

Recommendations (3-4 pages): Clearly articulate detailed recommendations for the company's financial success and justify your rationale. (Note: The Recommendation questions that need to be answered are below).

Concluding Thoughts (1-2 pages): Include concluding thoughts on the future of your chosen company.

The Recommendation questions that need to be answered are below:

Should the firm increase its capital expenditures to increase competitiveness? What segments of the business get the most capital allocated to them and why? Justify your rationale for all of your responses.

Should the firm increase growth by acquiring other companies for synergies or grow internally? Does it have the infrastructure to grow internally? If it is acquired by a competitor, how will the merger be integrated with regard to culture, overlapping businesses, etc.? Justify your rationale for all your responses.

Should the firm risk increasing its leverage (debt) to increase earnings and return on capital or keep the leverage the same (or even decrease it)? If it should increase it, explain why and by how much? Justify your rationale for all your responses.

Should the firm increase marketing spending? If so, by how much, and where should it be allocated? Should online marketing spending and international marketing increase by more than print ads? Justify any additional spending that is recommended. Justify your rationale for all your responses.