Finance and Portfolio Management Assignment 4 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finance and Portfolio Management 4 - Assignment Example 4. Acquisitions including Sun Microsystems, Siebel, I-Flex, PeopleSoft and others, may involve unanticipated costs, and integration issues that may disrupt existing operations. 5. Risks relating to foreign currency gains and losses and risks relating to compliance with international and US laws that may adversely affect international sales and operations. 6. Risks of reducing prices or losing customers due to intense competition and rapid technological evolution. Source: http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Oracle_%28ORCL%29/Filing/10-Q/2011/F94876420 Company Performance and Financial Ratios Compared vs. Industry Average/ S&P 500 Growth Rate % Oracle Corp. Industry Average S&P 500 Sales (Qtr vs. year ago qtr) 36.90 23.80 12.10 Net Income (YTD vs. YTD) 13.50 5.60 `5.90 Net Income (Qtr vs. year ago qtr) 78.00 51.50 60.60 Sales (5-Year Annual Avg.) 17.85 14.05 7.98 Net Income (5-Year Annual Avg.) 16.28 11.74 8.03 Dividends (5-Year Annual Avg.) N/A 4.76 5.30 Price Ratios % Current P/E Ratio 21 .3 32.9 19.3 P/E Ratio 5-Year High NA 23.6 18.4 P/E Ratio 5-Year Low NA 8.4 2.6 Price/Sales Ratio 4.73 10.33 2.20 Price/Book Value 4.43 4.69 3.60 Price/Cash Flow Ratio 15.40 20.60 15.30 Financial Condition % Debt/Equity Ratio 0.40 0.30 1.18 Current Ratio 2.9 2.4 1.4 Quick Ratio 2.9 1.8 1.0 Interest Coverage 14.4 21.3 83.8 Leverage Ratio 1.8 1.9 3.8 Book Value/Share 7.24 8.16 25.45 Profit Margins % Gross Margin 75.3 74.9 39.0 Pre-Tax Margin 30.0 3.4 17.4 Net Profit Margin 22.4 22.3 12.8 5 Yr Gross Margins (5-Year Avg.) 78.1 76.1 38.8 5Yr Pre-tax Margin (5-Year Avg.) 33.1 26.2 15.6 5 Yr Net Profit Margins (5-Year Avg.) 23.7 17.9 11.1 Investment Returns % Return On Equity 23.7 27.0 23.4 Return On Assets 12.1 13.6 8.3 Return On Capital 15.3 19.5 10.9 Return On Equity (5-Year Avg.) 24.7 26.1 19.6 Return On Assets (5-Year Avg.) 12.5 14.0 7.7 Return On Capital (5-Year Avg.) 16.4 20.3 10.2 Management Efficiency Income/Employee 73,655 122,961 112,643 Revenue/Employee 328,520 495,504 990,090 Receivable Turnover 8.2 7.3 14.4 Inventory Turnover 28.7 58.6 11.8 Asset Turnover 0.5 0.6 0.8 Source: http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/results/compare.asp?Page=TenYearSummary&symbol=ORCL Based on the table presented above Oracle Corporation’s Performance and Financial ratios is comparatively better or at par with industry average and with S&P 500. Gowth rate is higher than industry average. The price ratios and interest coverage is lower than industry average. There is a clear disparity in Oracle’s Investment Return Ratios and Management Efficiency Ratios particularly in income and revenue per employee. This low income/employee and revenue/employee ratios show that Oracle employees generally earn less than the industry average. In the long run this is crucial to Oracle’s operation as this relates to employee satisfaction and performance. It is also seen that no data is available on dividends paid as Oracle Corp have not consistently declared or paid d ividends in the past years. The company is geared towards reinvesting funds in acquisitions and tends to delay payment of dividends to stockholders. Reinvesting on its internal customers, the stockholders and the employees, is evidently low. Bonds Maturity Date Interest Price Yield % Oracle 5.75% 04/15/2018 5.75% 155.50 3.21 Oracle 144A 5.375% 07/15/2040 5.375% 101.90 5.25

Habermas the Public Sphere Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Habermas the Public Sphere - Essay Example 1-13). According to many political theorists, the public sphere is an important entity for a strong democracy. The public and the private spheres acquired a clear distinction in the 17th and 18th century. The public sphere usually consists of informal citizen discussions and deliberations that lead to the formation of a public opinion which is rational enough to guide and influence political systems. Habermas has given a complete outline of the public sphere in The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society. (1989). This piece of work outlines the public sphere critical theory in a systematically developed manner (Dahlgren, 1995, p. 44). The public sphere thus develops from the realms of public authority as well as private relations. The private relations may involve the family and the civil society at large. The private individuals, therefore, come together to form the public sphere. They are driven by the notion of speech without censorship as well as the desire for unified reasoning. According to Habermas, therefore, the public sphere involves both historical economic and political concerns. He continues to explain that every communication contains a communicative action which is oriented towards an agreement. Whenever a matter concerning living together as a people with differences is debated, the public sphere is always constituted. The public sphere became more of a commercial and entertainment entity rather than its conserving its political character. The shift from the original character to other commercialized versions is documented in the press. Habermas, therefore, looks at the integration of literature and journalism as well as the role played by mass media. The public sphere was also affected by the emergence of mass media. The apparent evolution of the communications environment has made the public sphere to change to a platform for advertisements. As a result of these, there emerges a new class of participants such as public relations practitioners (Thompson, 1993, p. 67). Democracy, according to Habermas, is founded on the world of life. It is this world of life that enables free communication between different people. It also drives people into pursuing private and individual interests as opposed to common goals in life. The media plays a crucial role in any democracy. This comes easier, of course, if the environment is right. Such an environment is one which consists of the requisite skills that enable democratic reporting. The media is most of the time flooded with advertisements that target some individual tastes. The information that is presented is also based on the pre-existing views. There should, therefore, be mechanisms which check for public accountability as well as professionalism in media operations. One of the characteristics that identify a democracy is the independence of the media. This is strengthened by the financial viability of the media organizatio ns. Financial strength ensures that the media operates in an environment free of external influences, especially political influences (Hallin, 1994, p.12). The media is also an essential for checking the political system when that system is unable to meet the social expectations. The media is, however, not expected to entertain political bias or partisan reporting at all. Accessibility of the media

Business management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 8

Business management - Essay Example The report starts by giving a brief description of the organisation followed by an outline of the organisational culture operating there. Google Inc is a multinational public computing and internet search corporation based in California. According to its official website, Google operates one of the biggest internet search engines in the world and it develops a number of internet based services and products. The organisation operates more than one million severs in data centers around the world and it has more than 200Â  000 employees worldwide. Likewise, the organisation also has leaders whose aim is to ensure that they positively influence the members of the organisation to pull their efforts towards the attainment of organisational goals. The organisational culture at Google is inclusive and every employee has something to say. Organisational culture can be described as the shared understanding which exists amongst organisation members with regards to the way things are done in a particular organisation (Swanepoel 1998). It refers to a set or system of shared features such as beliefs, values, assumptions, expectations, symbols and many others. People in the organisation can learn values and they shape their behaviour. Since these values are learned and created, there is an aspect of management function where the management ought to establish a culture in an organisation which can be used as a guide in the way the organisation operates. In every organisation, there is a culture which defines the policies as well as the structures needed in carrying out business. In the case of Google, it can be noted that there are espoused values that are clearly defined by the organisation as its preferred way of doing business and they are reflected in the company’s website. The espoused values at Google Inc put people first and the employees are encouraged to share information as well as learning from each other. Creativity is a virtue and all the employees are

lost :: essays research papers

"Hello?" "Mike, it's Alex. Victoria was in a car accident last night..." "Oh my God! Is it serious?" "Yes, it's pretty serious. She's still unconscious. Hey listen, buddy, I have to go out of town for a while and I was wondering if you could call the hospital every once in a while because apparently somebody she knows should be around after she wakes up. It sounds kind of silly to me but..." "I'm leaving right now." "Do what you want, Mike. Why don't you get some more sleep; after all it's three in the morning. I've got to go- my plane leaves in an hour. Thanks so much for bailing me out at such short notice, old pal." "Hey no problem, buddy, it's only your wife; no need to be worried or anything..." Mike said sarcastically to the dial tone. Mike ran to the shower and was dressed and in the car in ten minutes. "Excuse me, could you please tell me what room Mrs. Victoria Warner, I mean Smith, is in?" "Yes, sir, she's in room 23, but you can't see her until 6:30. You may wait in the lounge at the end of the hall if you wish." "Thank you very much." Mike looked through the little square window of her door. The private room was cold and dark with green tile covering the walls halfway. She had tubes in her nose, her head bandaged heavily, her arms in casts and her neck in a brace. She had a long cut along her right cheekbone. "You're still beautiful, little Victoria," Mike murmured softly to himself as tears welled up in his eyes. He turned away and walked down the hall to the private lounge. As he walked in and sat down, he scanned the people already there. There was a seemingly nice older couple, two middle-aged women and a young boy. "I REALLY hope her foot feels better after surgery," one of the women said. "No you don't, Susie. You're the one that didn't want to pitch in some money to help her pay the bill," the other said icily. "I wouldn't talk, Jen. You don't even want to be here. I loved those fake tears of concern when they wheeled her in; that was a nice touch," Susie laughed wickedly. "She wouldn't even need to have surgery if it weren't for you dropping that iron on her foot.

The Most Unforgettable Moment

The most unforgettable experience is always hard for me to forget , and stays fresh in my memory all the time . I still remember the experience of being all my life . Last summer , my family and I spend our holiday on the Redang island . This is one of the beautiful beaches in Malaysia . My family told me many interesting things about Redang island . There are many interesting things to see and to do .I and my siblings are very pleased and excited to got to Redang island . Redang island is located in Terengganu who take the time 8 hours to get there from Kuala Lumpur . After we arrive at Terengganu , we must climb a boat to go Redang island . Trip to Redang island takes 40 minutes . After arriving at Redang island we check in into hotel . At evening we go to beach to snorkelling .The boat ride took us to a larger pontoon boat anchored in the middle of the reef . After a brief instructional video on how to snorkel , I was ready with my medium flippers , a life jacket , large goggles a nd most importantly , a snorkel . I can see various kinds of fish in the sea . There is a large variety of fish , small and very unique .Our activities in Redang island just snorkelling and diving because my family and I are very excited to see the beautiful and unique fish . After three days we were in Redang island , we should go gome . The day went by so fast . My family and I have many memories of that day . I will never forget the experience a holiday with my family .

Essay about Exploring the Possibility of Merit Pay for...

President Obama’s recommendations for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and his education plan include provisions to award merit pay to teachers in an attempt to obtain and retain effective teachers as measured by student academic achievement. These proposals are supported by budgeted funding for the 2011 fiscal year with additional funding included in the optional, competitive 1.35 billion Race to the Top Fund. A number of different merit pay systems exist. Some reward entire schools or districts when passing rates on standardized tests are achieved, while others reward individual teachers for passing rates. Some rely on peer or administrator evaluations and staff development as additional†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Students in economically disadvantaged schools are more likely to have teachers rated in the bottom quartile for teacher effectiveness as measured by raising student achievement (Education Equality Project, 2010). Previous Attempts at Merit Pay Traditionally, efforts to obtain effective teachers have focused primarily upon raising the entry bar via credential, licensure, or certification requirements. However, research has consistently demonstrated that credentials, licensure, and advanced degrees are of little value in predicting teacher effectiveness (Education Equality Project, 2010; Green Forster, 2008). The use of merit pay to obtain, retain, and affect student achievement is a lesser used, but not unknown, methodology. In the 1920s, 40 to 50 percent of all urban school districts adopted a merit pay plan. Interest waned and then resurfaced in the 1950s and, by 1960; one in ten public schools adopted a form of merit pay. Interest declined in the 1970s and rose again in the 1980s, and in 2010. Prior to the 1980s, research was primarily focused upon the difficulty experienced in defining and measuring quality teaching (Cohen and Murnane, 1985). Due to the inability to find reliable and valid definitions and measures of teacher quality, staff dissatisfaction and dissension was experienced when using merit pay plans (Murnane Cohen, 1986). In addition,Show MoreRelatedA Historical Perspective: The Wage Gap1586 Words   |  7 Pagesearnings between men and woman, is relevant today and remains greatly influenced by specific historical events. This paper will examine the cultural context of employment for white, middle-class, American women from the early 1920’s to present. Exploring the progression and integration of women into the workforce, detailing the forces and influences for change and examining critical court rulings, this paper will offer a perspective of the imeragey taken from the author. It is believed by the authorRead MoreTeacher ´s Performance and Student Academic Achievement2933 Words   |  12 Pages Teacher performance is acknowledged as the most important institutional determinant of student academic achievement. For policymakers exploring ways to improve education system, one of the permanent ways is to concentrate on teachers that are the primary resource of the system. Apart from the student’s family background, the single most significant factor in determining variability in student attainment within any single country is teacher performance (Hanushek, 2005). Teacher performance accountsRead MoreThe Current Structure Of Teaching2213 Words   |  9 PagesAmerican schools today vary by the type of classroom a student is in. For example, there are teaching styles that shift the focus from the teacher giving the instruction and being the central figure in the classroom. The counter to this example would be the students or groups expressing individual freedom with exploring and learning. In this type of system the teacher would not be the central figure of the class room, but instead act as a guidance figure. The exposure to different classroom settings canRead MoreUnit 38 Business and Economic Environment4792 Words   |  20 Pagesdirect impact on individual businesses. Raising interest rates may reduce demand as it becomes more expensive for consumers to borrow. This means that businesses will have to reduce output and possibly make staff redundant. The cost of borrowing to pay for new investment goes up so implementing newer technologies might be delayed, reducing an organisation’s competitiveness. Changes in the business environment will impact on individual organisations. 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Its modern concept is very broad and inclusive one. It does not recognize difference between mental and moral behavior for the purpose of control, nor, in fact forRead MoreExploring Understanding of Critical Educational Theory to Analyse a Case Study from Community and Youth Work Practice.5077 Words   |  21 Pagesstudents coming from households where benefits are claimed and the highest proportion in Gateshead of lone parent families. The group were described to me as low achievers by their commissioning Deputy Head and further confirmed by the accompanying teacher and staff during breaks. Voting habits in the ward covering Kingsmeadow School are the lowest in Gateshead according to the Gateshead Council website. During the course of the sessions most of the young people expressed that politics wasn’t forRead MoreWomen Entrepreneurs: a Critical Review of the Literature12149 Words   |  49 PagesAbstract Increasing numbers of women are becoming leaders of their own businesses, and many are struggling to achieve success. A growing body of theory and research is exploring how different women come to business ownership, their unique leadership challenges and strategies for success, their personal change and the processes of leadership development they experience. This paper reviews literature addressing women business owners from the general perspective of understanding their leadershipRead MoreEssay on The Comparative Advantage of Sexual Divisions of Labor5471 Words   |  22 PagesIn examining the case of â€Å"a man of liberal education,† Malthus declared that â€Å"if he marries and has a family he shall be obliged†¦to rank himself with moderate farmers and the lower class of tradesmen† (Ch 4). The only consideration in debating the merits of having children, in this case and in the several that follow, is the income of the man. The implication, therefore, is that it is solely the market income that plays into the decision to marry and subsequently have children. The woman’s roleRead MoreReport on time management, SWOT analysis, learning styles and essay and report writing7192 Words   |  29 PagesOpportunities Threats Good job Job provides opportunities Opportunity to work to help toward debt May be funded by a Trust fund Create a good life with my partner Possibility to marry my partner Living alone successfully while partner travels with the Armed Forces Advance well at work Work towards a degree Possibility of having help from the hardship fund Work toward a better credit rating Falling behind due to dyslexia Money holding me back in study Failing to cover all bills Spiralling

The Cold War And The Soviet Union - 1814 Words

INTRO: After World War II, there was peace and prosperity in America and many other parts of the world. However, for the Koreans, it was the beginning of a never ending split. When Japan fell, Korea was suddenly free, and hoped to finally become a unified state. However, the United States and the Soviet Union had different ideas. The Soviets wanted to have Korea under communist control and the United States wanted to establish a democracy. Additionally, the United States believed that containment, a foreign policy used to prevent the spread of communism, was extremely important. The Cold War is a term used to describe the relationship between America and the Soviet Union from 1945 to 1980. Neither side actually ever fought the other, as the end result would have been catastrophic. However, they did fight for their beliefs by using others who fought for their beliefs on their behalf. THESIS STATEMENT: Between the Cold War, North and South Korea’s desire to control their own land, and the threat of nuclear warfare, along with death rates plummeting and truces only resulting in endless attacks, the Korean War was inevitable. BODY: ADD TRANSITION The Korean War was the first battle of the Cold War, and first major proxy war fought between the United States and a Soviet communist supported enemy. A proxy war occurs when one or more opposing powers instigates a war and then uses third parties to fight on their behalf. Right between Japan to the east, Russia to the northeast,Show MoreRelatedThe Cold War And The Soviet Union973 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cold War was a state of economic, diplomatic, and ideological discord among nations without armed conflict. The Cold War was between the United States and the USSR because these were the two major powers after WWII. Basically, the Cold War was a series of proxy wars that had taken place back in time involving surrounding countries. One of the main causes for Cold War was that the Soviet Union was spreading communism and the United States didn’t like that so they were trying to contain communismRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1233 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold Wa r is unique among war’s to be not a war between states, but a war between ideologies. The United States and other allies defend social democracy capitalism, as the pinnacle of freedom and equality; and the Soviet Union though communism was the pinnacle of equality. These ideologies manifested themselves through the superpowers, which caused the conflict between them. Both the United States, and the Soviet Union are to blame for the outbreak of the Cold War. The United State’s missionRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1697 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cold War, in fact didn’t take place in the winter season, but was just as dangerously cold and unwelcoming, as it focused on two contrasting powers: the U.S. and the Soviet Union. After World War 2, the Cold War influenced capitalist U.S. and communist Soviet Union to engage in disagreements causing many disputes having to use military, economic and humanitarian aid. With different goals, the contrasting powers prove through the Marshall Plan, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and SALT that communismRead MoreThe Cold War And Soviet Union840 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many theories and opinions of how the cold war started. Some believe that the cold war was the result of the belligerence of Joseph Stalin and the insecurity it caused in the United States and the West. Others believe the primary responsibility for the cold war derives from the hardline policies of the United States. (Viewpoints Article: the Soviet Union Start the Cold War) I believe The Cold War was triggered by the theory of two superpower countries in a race for dominance in the worldRead MoreCold War And The Soviet Union859 Words   |  4 PagesAMS2270 Cold War This essay will discuss about cold war, including the background, beginning, progress and ending. As we know, cold war is a struggle between U.S. with NATO and Soviet Union with WTO from 1947 to 1991. It is a significant event in history, and it influence the almost all of world, it directly lead to the radical change of eastern Europe and the breakup of the USSR. In 1946 February, George.F.Kennan wrote a â€Å"Long Telegram†, it clearly said the strategy of containing Soviets and itRead MoreThe Cold War On The Soviet Union1230 Words   |  5 PagesThe Cold War’s effect on the Soviet Union Shortly after the World War 2 ended, the United States and its North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies entered the cold war with the Soviet Union. Germany was divided in half and later, the Berlin Wall was constructed as a physical boundary between the Soviet controlled East Germany and NATO controlled West Germany. This standoff continued until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. The cold war had a huge influence on the world stage, but also had a majorRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1391 Words   |  6 Pageswake of World War II as the decades-long force of Germany’s reign came to its conclusion, an extensive repositioning of authority among the world’s top powers began. The war wielded devastating consequences for most countries involved and effectively diminished the dominance Britain and France once employed across the globe. Out of this devastation rose the two new dominating forces of the world who were triumphant in the aftermath of the war: the U nited States and the Soviet Union. The United StatesRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union Essay965 Words   |  4 PagesThe Cold War was a period in world history marked with increased tensions primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both countries desired to expand their ideologies across the globe, the U.S. urging capitalism and democratic elections and the Soviets promoting communism. After the allies had obtained victory in World War II, the Yalta Conference was held. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, wanted to expand his sphere of influence into Eastern Europe and demanded thatRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union1343 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract: As one of the most important events in 20th century, the Cold War had a very deep influence for the human-being civilization and it changed the world structure . The United States and the Soviet Union ,the two poles, became enemies from friends after the World War II. They adopt hostile attitude towards each other and criticized the the opponents’ social systems. To find out who provoked the Cold War, the US, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdoms ,Roosevelt, Truman ,Stalin, and ChurchillRead MoreThe Soviet Union Of The Cold War1745 Words   |  7 Pages During the era of the Cold War, starting in 1947 and definitively ending in 1991, the United States and the Soviet Union faced off in conflicts with each other through smaller states. The United States and Soviet Union faced off to see who could spread their ideology the most in Europe. The Soviet Union used force and supported coups to spread communism while the United States installed democratic governments as a way to counter communism in Eastern Europe. These small conflicts that the two superpowers