Saturday, January 25, 2020
Methods of Data Collection
Methods of Data Collection 1. INTRODUCTION This report consists of how data are collected and what are the methods to collect data for research. To improve a research better one or for more learning of particular thing which is to be analyzed. In this report a brief study of method of collecting data by primary data and secondary data with their classifications will be observed. 2. Methods of collecting primary data OBSERVATION QUESTIONNAIRE SEMI-STRUCTURED AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW. 2.1 OBSERVATION Observation means finding what people do, what they need, etcâ⬠¦ It combines of recording, describing, analysis and interpretation of people behavior. Observation are two different types, PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION. In participant observation researcher will involve with subject activities and live and being a member of group. E.g. .all documentary films are all of this kind. This type roles are: Complete participant Complete observer Observer as participant Participant as observer. Graphical representation of participant observation researcher roles Participant as observer complete participant Observer as participant complete observer STRUCTURED OBSERVATION. As the heading its self describes about what kind of observation are done in it. Itââ¬â¢s a structured way of dealing data collection method, which involves in high level of predetermined structured .It form only some part of data collection. Ex: A daily attendance sheet, planning sheet. 2.2 SEMI STRUCTURED AND IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS It involves in interviewing a person or on group. Where interview are classified into structured, semi-structured, unstructured interviews. In structured interviews a format of question are followed for some particular criteria to be handled, which consists of standard questions. For semi-structured interviews it is based on optioning the customer to select their preferred section of questions. Whereas unstructured interviews deals with in depth involvement in a particular or interested area. Interviews are done by face to face and group interviews. Face to face interviews can figure out a person behavior, but group interview show how groups are mingled together and how they differ one another. HOW CAN THESE TYPE OF INTERVIEWS ARE USEFUL IN RESEARCH 2.3 QUESTIONNARIE It is a general way of collecting data, in which person is asked to answer for same set of questions in order. It is very easy to ask question for some study or research. Most of the research use questionnaire as their weapon for collecting information. This can be involved in individual level so sampling size also be larger one. An interesting one in questionnaire is modes of responding to it. Telephonic survey. Mail (postal) survey. E-mail survey. QUESTIONNARIE SELECTION CHART 2.3.1 Telephonic survey It is a common method followed where researcher and respondent are unknown. So limited data are collected from this method. Due to limitations it restrict questionnaire format to smaller one. Question must be easier for respondent to answer quickly. Question must not be longer one which consume more time. To handle this survey a trained person must be interviewing. Answers to question can be entered directly on an excel-sheet to save time. 2.3.2 Mail (postal) survey It is average form of survey where respondent and questionnaire cannot contact directly and without any interaction. Questioner should be preplanned about design and structure of question to be framed in such a way that respondent could answer it without neglecting any question. Questions must be in an order like easy, average, difficult, which can earn a valuable survey. Time are more valued in surveys. 2.3.3 E-mail survey E-mail survey are most popular survey where people are gather through internet. It can be performed in two way by e-mailing or using online survey. Just as mail an e-mail can be sent to respondent for answering but they may not reply for it, due to some reasons. Online survey are better because they answer then and there so data are collected faster than mailing. Today html pages are used to frame survey questions. And exciting one for survey is Google forms which are much useful for researcher to get job done. 3. METHODS OF COLLECTING SECONDARY DATA Collecting secondary data involves in finding publications, project and research reports, ERP/data warehouse and mining, internet/web for your necessary of research details. 3.1 PUBLICATIONS It refers to printed media like newspapers, textbooks, magazines, journals and reports. These are otherwise known as reference material, which contains wide source of data. Researchers follow secondary data as their first priority than primary data because it will lead them to a proper or complete view of research for their respective topics. As every publications have topic specified to itself, researchers can find easily the source of topic in a systematic manner. To search these publications proper guide lines also required. 3.2 ERP/DATAWAREHOUSES AND MINING For every organization ERP are implemented to gather information about finance, commercial, accounts, production, marketing, RD etcâ⬠¦ How do ERP helps in research, since it has data stored day by day, months and yearly basis to compute as integrated one. Researcher of different phenomenon can easily track those information by authorized person of such organization for their data collection. ERP has different sectors combined for example if a researcher form financial sector comes to verify how organization development in that particular sector, he/she can collect information from ERP. Mostly these data are considered as primary data. Data warehouses are secondary data, where large amount of data are stored. These data cannot be analyzed manually. So software for analyzing it is Data Mining Software, this will segregate all kinds of data and use statistical techniques to analyze data. Some techniques used by this software are variance analysis, cluster analysis, factor analysis, etc. It is a statistical and information technologies software. To create these software so of vendors of it are, excel miner, SPSS, SAS and SYSSTAT. Data mining is automated process where some features are selected by user. 3.3 Internet/web Most basic way collecting secondary data is to search through web. As we know internet search topic and words related thing easily and fast where surplus amount of data are founded in thousands of websites all over the world. It includes all e-textbooks, journals, government reports. To search our results through internet search are provided those are GOOGLE, YAHOO, etc. all these search engines can show several sites but one must choose correct data related to topic of research involves. Most popular website for collecting data are Wikipedia for researcher, where note of particular topic are gives with reference site to get detailed study about research topics. SOME OF THE IMPORTANT WEBSITES 4. conclusion From the given information we know about what are primary data and secondary data and how to collect those data from various resources. Research must be valuable one so data collection must be done enormously to predict correct result of analysis. Secondary data can be added in research reports but there must be some data which show your involvement in research process. Research is an endless process because as time changes strategy of reports containing details also vary due to respondent are not same in nature. A research about a topic gives overview, detailed and explanation according to research types. At last collection of data are most important for research because it act as proof or evidence of your valuable reports. Table of Contents PG NO INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS OF COLLECTING PRIMARY DATA 1 OBSERVATION 1 2.1.1 PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION 2.1.2 STRUCTURED OBSERVATION 2 2.2 SEMI STRUCTURED AND INDEPTH INTERVIEWS 3 2.3 QUESTIONNARIE 4 2.3.1 TELEPHONIC SURVEY 5 2.3.2 POSTAL SURVEY 5 2.3.3 E-MAIL SURVEY 5 METHODS OF COLLECTING SECONDARY DATA 6 PUBLICATIONS 6 ERP/DATA WAREHOUSES AND MINING 6 INTERNET/WEB 7 CONCLUSION 8 REFERENCES PEARSON EDUCATION/ THIRD EDITION/ RESEARCH METHODS FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS/ Mark Saunders/Philip Lewis/Adrian Thorn hill SAGE PUBLICATIONS/ESSENTIALS OF BUSINESS RESEARCH/ Jonathan Wilson. TATA McGraw HILL/STATISTICS FOR MANAGEMENT/ G.C.BERI.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Canadian Identity Essay Essay
Canada is known worldwide for our peopleââ¬â¢s resilience to nature, our acceptance of many different cultures, our universal healthcare, and our contributions to world peace. I believe for these reasons Canada is one of the greatest nations on Earth. Firstly, Canadian citizens are among the hardiest people on earth when it comes to resisting Mother Nature. Canada is battered each year with ice storms, hurricanesââ¬â¢ and windstorms, yet we Canadians grit our teeth and fight through it. This treacherous weather helps bring Canada together, and unite us when things are at their worst. For example, during the 2013-2014 ice storms many parts of Ontario where left without power for days, yet out of this horrible tragedy, Canadians banded together and helped each other out, lending each other generators and supplies to help get through this hard time together as a nation. Canada is also ranked as the second coldest country on earth, with an average annual temperature of -3.6 degrees (Anand) with an annual temperature below freezing Canada is well suited for winter sports like skiing and snowmobiling. The most Northerly settlement on earth is Alert, Nunavut, Alert is a Canadian Military and research base on the Northern Tip of Ellesmere Island, the lowest recorded temperature in Alert was -64 degrees Celsius, thatââ¬â¢s the same temperature as the surface of Mars!(CFS Alert). Itââ¬â¢s this extreme weather that allows us Canadians to grow tough, unite together against winter, and succeed at sports like skiing and hockey. Secondly, Canada is one of the best countries in the world to immigrate to. Canada is very multicultural and accepts cultures from all over the world. Whether you are immigrating from Ethiopia or Korea you will most likely find a small part of your culture somewhere in Canada. Canada has been inhabited by immigrants ever since 1604 when French explorers settled in the Maritimes (Facts in Canadaââ¬â¢s Immigration History). Also 23% of Canadian citizens are born outside of our Country, the highest amount out of all the G8 countries (Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity in Canada). Canada is unique because in over 100 different places minority groups are actually theà majority. For example, Brampton Ontario has a population of 523,000 (Demographic Overview) and out of that number there are only 33,000 Irish citizens while there is 159,000 citizens from East India (Demographic Overview). Yet with all these different cultures in Canada, we all still feel united under the Canadian Flag and proud when we sing our National Anthem. Thirdly, Canada has a world renowned healthcare system, unlike countries like the US where you have to pay to go to the hospital; Canada covers the cost of most medical bills for you. The idea for Medicare in Canada first came in 1947 when the Saskatchewan Government released their first hospital insurance plan (The History of Medicare), initially most Doctors and other medical professionals despised this ââ¬Å"Medicare Systemâ⬠because they worried they were going to make less money than if the medical system was privatized , slowly but surely the idea of universal healthcare grew and in the 1960ââ¬â¢s Pearsonââ¬â¢s minority government created National Medical Care system; were the government pays 50% of medical costs (The History of Medicare). Today, Canadaââ¬â¢s healthcare system is an interesting mix of both public finding and the private sector. Canada is ranked 30th in the world for its healthcare system, while the United States is ranked 72nd. As a Canadian citi zen I feel safe knowing that if I ever get ill, I am covered without having to spend any money. Finally, Canada has been fighting for world peace ever since it joined the UN during its creation in 1945. It was actually Lester B. Pearson who suggested the idea of a UN lead peacekeeping force in 1956 (The Canadian Contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping). Canadaââ¬â¢s first peacekeeping mission was done in 1949, in India and Pakistan. The mission was codenamed UNMOGIP, Canadaââ¬â¢s job was to negotiate a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, in 1950, almost a year after the war started the UN negotiated a ceasefire with the help of Canadian Soldiers (Canada History). Canada has lost the 2nd most amounts of soldiers out of any UN country, and has lost the most soldiers per capita as well. Canadian peace keeping missions help shape the Canadian Identity because it shows the world that we care for other countries, and that even though our population is small we stillà sacrifice a lot in the name of Peace. In Conclusion, I feel that Canada is an incredible nation, and I feel our contributions to world peace, our peopleââ¬â¢s resilience to the weather, our free healthcare system, and our multiculturalism are some of the main things that have helped make Canadians respected in the international community today.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Essay on The Gun Control Debate - 865 Words
I have a very strict gun control policy: if theres a gun around, I want to be in control of it. -- Clint Eastwood Gun control has a history dating back to 1791, when the Second Amendment of the Constitution was ratified. However, more recently, the debate over gun control has escalated into a much more public issue to which many citizens can relate. After all, stories about incidents involving guns appear frequently today in newspapers and on television or the radio. One could say that the debate started with the passage of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which banned ownership of guns by certain groups of people and regulated the sale of guns. Since then, two main groups have gradually appeared: people who oppose strict federalâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Since 1991, the violent crime rate has decreased 38 percent.2 Supporters of restricting gun ownership argue exactly the opposite; they feel that if more people were to have guns, there would be more violent crime incidents and more accidents involving guns, especially among children and teens. More people in the United States die in a gun-related occurrence than in any other country, and gun attacks are five times more likely to cause death than attacks involving a knife.3 Those people who want more restricting laws have good reason to do so, because they want to protect themselves and the people they know from harm. On both sides of this issue, people feel that their ideas are the ones that will keep them from harm. Unfortunately, their ideas differ so greatly (gun ownership versus no ownership) that the issue is hotly debated today. Between very limited gun control and very restricted gun control, there must be some medium that can somewhat appease both sides. More laws can be constructed that ban individuals that have a criminal background, mentally unstable individuals, or minors from buying a gun. Already, a background check is required for all individuals who wish to buy a gun; this comes from the Brady Law, passed in 1994, which allows law enforcement officials to check the qualifications of the buyer. This way, law-abiding citizens can own a gun for hunting or for self-defense reasons, while criminals would have a nearly impossibleShow MoreRelatedGun Control Debate2109 Words à |à 9 PagesGun Control Debate Paper Today in the United States gun control is a topic of immense debate, because of the shooting that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary located in Newtown, Connecticut. This most recent tragic event ended the lives of 20 students and six adults. Similar events have occurred across the United States at a movie theater in Colorado, on college campuses in Texas and Virginia, or at the grocery store in Arizona each destroying families in many communities. The questions deservingRead MoreDebate on Gun Control518 Words à |à 2 PagesThe Debate on Gun Control The debate concerning gun control has recently become as popular as ever. People question if guns are really necessary. Some wonder that if the government regulates who has the right to own a gun crime rates and death could decrease in the Unites States. Others believe that guns arenââ¬â¢t to blame for deaths; ââ¬Å"guns donââ¬â¢t kill people, people kill peopleâ⬠. How can we conclude which side is right if they both strongly believe in their argument? There are always two sides toRead MoreThe Debate On Gun Control878 Words à |à 4 Pages Debate on Gun Control Gun control is such a hot debate in the United States of America especially in the wake of so many recent, tragic mass shootings. In this nation nearly half of all US households own at least one gun, and about 31,537 people die from a gunshot each year. There should be some gun control in the United States of America; due to the number of murders of young teenagers and those who are harmless. Someone on an opposing side would say that they disagree, because many peopleRead MoreThe Debate On Gun Control1712 Words à |à 7 Pages This paper explores gun control through five main articles. There are many standpoints that take place due to the diversity of the articles used. Gun control is a global topic and it comes up in the news all of the time. It affects society because of its wide range of topics it is involved in. This paper talks about different standpoints on gun control, from it why it should be in place, to why it shouldn t be in place, to how other countries have used it. It includes statistics about mass shootingsRead MoreThe Debate On Gun Control2134 Words à |à 9 Pages Guns Do Not Belong on Campus The debate on gun control has been an issue in the United States since the country began. The founding fathers of the nation considered the issue so important it was addressed in the second amendment to the Constitution which states, A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed (US Const. amend. II). Of course these words have been interpreted differently through theRead MoreThe Gun Control Debate in America1159 Words à |à 5 PagesGUN CONTROL DEBATE IN AMERICA Gun control has become a very hot topic of contention in America today. What seems to echo here are two words: ââ¬Å"gunsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"crimeâ⬠, in a sense that are these words mutually exclusive to each other? Does the use of guns ultimately lead to crime? On the flip side, have the laws in America restricting firearm use been effective enough to protect the lives of the citizens? These are some of the questions that strike the hearts of many when the gun control debate music isRead MoreThe Debate Over Gun Control1732 Words à |à 7 Pages The topic of gun control has become very popular in recent years as there is now more controversy than ever about the role that guns play in todayââ¬â¢s world. I have come to be interested in this topic because it seems like not a day goes by anymore where there isnââ¬â¢t a newspaper published with an article slandering either the pro or anti gun control activists. Going into this topic, I was assuming that I would end up readin g about a lot of school shootings and how it is just guns that are causingRead MoreThe Debate On Gun Control Laws915 Words à |à 4 Pagescitizens and lawmakers when creating laws regarding gun control. However, the debate on gun control is nothing new. In 1924, Presidential candidate, Robert La Follete said, ââ¬Å"Our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control but to decide who can own which guns under what conditions.â⬠This debate has been brought up multiple times still in modern day due to no one settling on laws regarding ownership of a firearm. Statistic rates show gun control laws in fact do work, so why havenââ¬â¢t law officialsRead MoreThe Debate On Abortion And Gun Control1604 Words à |à 7 Pageswith the governance of a country or other area. This especially applies to the debate or conflict among individuals or parties in hope of achieving power. Dealing with politics there is always a side that agrees and disagrees, thus developing the debate. Tw o of the most domestic controversial political topics are abortion and gun control. As for international there is terrorism. These three topics have been ongoing debates for some time. Everyoneââ¬â¢s opinion on political controversies can be based onRead MoreThe Debate On Owning A Gun Control1409 Words à |à 6 PagesToday, the debate on owning a gun has many sides: there are many positives and negatives that come into play when talking about gun control. Gun control is a very controversial issue, however, with the right prevention steps one could relax knowing that the situation is finally being addressed. Most citizens have the right to have a gun other than felons. Felons have no rights to a gun and can not own or have one in their possession. Many people have their own feeling on guns on if they should have
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Comparing The Hebrew Or Israelite s ( Hoi ) And The...
The Hebrew or Israeliteââ¬â¢s (HoI) book of Genesis (2.5-3) and the Pandora Myth in the Greek poet Hesiodââ¬â¢s Work and Days both include the creation of Men and Women. In each of these works, this creation plays a significant role in showing the relationship between human beings and gods (or God) in that culture. The order of creation (Man Vs Women) indicates the importance one sex has over the other. In the book of Genesis (2.5-3) and Work and Days, Men are created before women towards the beginning of creation. However, the basis on why women are created indicates the importance of women in HoI and Greek cultures. In the book of Genesis (2.5-3) woman is created to be a companion for the lonely man, but plays an important role helping humans become more human like. In contrast, the story of Work and Days tells us women are created to punish man and are the root of all evil. The process in how women are created also indicates their importance within these cultures. In Genesis , the woman is created from a manââ¬â¢s rib, while in Work and Days the woman is created out of clay and the ââ¬Å"giftsâ⬠of many gods. Lastly, how the gods (or God) treats man, preceding creation, may also indicate some insight to their relationships. In Genesis, we see God worry for manââ¬â¢s well being, while in Works and Days man is being punished for something they didnââ¬â¢t do. Both Genesis and Work and Days have similar orders of creation for both men and women. Preceding the creation of heaven and earth, the
Monday, December 16, 2019
Thermal Coating Free Essays
Among the components exposed to heat load, piston of internal combustion engine is subject to maximum thermal stress. The large temperature gradient the piston will cause structural deformation deterioration of lubricant and increase the clearance between the cylinder liner and piston there by causing more noise, vibration degrees in the engine service life, the non- uniform temperature gradient arise owing damage of piston especially crown region. Experimental study is conducted on single cylinder 5hp diesel engine in order to find the improved performance when a ceramic coating is given especially in the piston crown. We will write a custom essay sample on Thermal Coating or any similar topic only for you Order Now Among the ceramics, Yttria partially stabilized Zirconia (YPSZ) is being favoured for diesel engines since its co efficient of thermal expansion is close to those of metals used in piston. This avoids problems relating to difference in thermal expansion between metallic and thermal parts which also increases its durability. Compared to the conventional engine (without coating over the piston crown) the modified engine (with ceramic coating over the piston crown) did not produce any observable knock in the engine, no significant wear of piston crown. Various graphs are drawn to check the improved performance of the engine when it is at with and without ceramic coating on the piston crown, and found that there is 5-6% decrease in SFC, 4-5% increase in brake thermal efficiency and 8-9% increase in mechanical efficiency. INTRODUCTION: Thermal barrier coatings were originally developed for air craft engine applications in 1940; only recently have they been modified and tested for use in diesel engines. Although diesel engines has greater compressive loads and more frequent thermal shocks, in additional, diesel TBCââ¬â¢s must cope with contaminants (Sodium, Vanadium, Sulphur ) often found in lower grade fuels. If these difference in engine operating conditions are ignored when choosing and applying a T. B. C premature failure of the coating can result. Diesel TBCââ¬â¢s are coating systems metallic bond coat and ceramic topcoat applied by the plasma thermal spray process; control of total coating thickness is critical. If not maintained within 0. 8mm, spallation of the coating can occur due to uneven heating and cooling of the process of the topcoats, Robotic thermal spraying provides the required thickness and compare values with established standards. Basically, there are three techniques of thermal spraying. The basic principle is the same for all (i. e. ) material is melted and propelled as finely atomized towards the target as the particle strike the surface they flatten a nd form thin platelets that conform and adhere to the irregularity of the prepared surface and to each other. The three techniques differ essentially in the fuel and the method of heating/ melting used. These differences give to the advantage and limitations which to considerable extent govern their range of applications. Thermal spraying infact is a group of processes i. e. , 1. Surface preparation and 2. Thermal spraying Both are basically important as far as quantity of the coating is concern. Coating of a material on a substance is made to serve in the specific environment and service conditions. It is possible only if the coating is adherent to the surface of the component, on which it is sprayed, tthroughout its useful life. If the coating flakes off or leaves the surface, the entire effort will go waste. The adhesion and other properties of the coating mainly depend on the surface condition of the substrate. How to cite Thermal Coating, Papers
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Financial performnace of Wesfarmers limited Supermarket Segments
Question: Discuss about the Financial Performnace of Wesfarmers limited for Supermarket Segments. Answer: Introduction Wesfarmers is a diversified conglomerate based in Perth whose majority revenue are derived from the supermarket segment where Coles is the major player. However, the business interests of the group span into home improvement, fuel retailing, hotels, energy, industrial safety, coal mining along with fertilisers and chemicals. The company structure was assumed by the business when it listed in 1980s and since then grown through the acquisition route (Wesfarmers, 2015).. Woolworth is the primary competitor of Wesfarmers and the two virtually have a duopoly in the grocery and supermarket segment. Woolworths unlike Wesfarmers has limited diversification and is present only in related businesses such as home improvement, fuel retailing, liquor, general merchandise and hotels. The two companies together account for more than 75% of the supermarket sales (Woolworths, 2015). Analysis of Trends in Balance Sheet Assets Liabilities It is apparent that there has been a slight decline in current assets in FY2015, but the total assets has enhanced by $ 675 million during the year. This may be attributed to the increase in the fixed assets such as PPE along with intangible assets. This is a healthy trend and augers well for the future growth as the company is making investment in the business. There has been also been an increase in both short term and long term borrowings on account of issue of corporate bonds ($ 1,168 million) and issue of long term debt ($ 295 million) respectively (Wesfarmers, 2015). The relevant ratios for short term liquidity of the company are presented below and corresponding figures for Woolworths are also given (Wesfarmers, 2015; Woolworths, 2015) The current ratio of Wesfarmers has declined from 1.13 at the end of FY2014 to 0.93 at the end of FY2015. This is on account of the sharp surge in current liabilities on account of short term corporate bonds issued to the tune of $ 1.17 billion. However, the ratio is still healthier than Woolworths in 2015 which is languishing at 0.83. The low current ratio and negative working capital are common in the industry as the sales are typically derived in cash thus amounting to lower receivables. However, the purchases are mostly done on credit due to which payables are significant. Thus, inventory is the main current asset which is reflected from the abysmally quick ratio for the two players. However, the above ratios are healthy and in line with the industry trends. The relevant ratio that indicate the capital structure and also the ability to pay interest are captured below (Wesfarmers, 2015; Woolworths, 2015) From the above table, is it apparent that even though the company has increased its borrowings in FY2015 as discussed, but still debt comprises only 26% of the shareholders equity. The corresponding ratio for Woolworths stands at 42% which is also comfortable. It is apparent that long term liquidity is not an issue with Wesfarmers as the debt equity ratio is exceptionally comfortable and leaves ample room to raise further debt (Damodaran, 2008). The interest coverage ratio for Wesfarmers has enhanced in FY2015 despite the increase in interest charges. This is attributed to the increase in EBIT. The interest coverage ratio is maintained at an exceptionally healthy multiple of about 12. Even though, it is slightly lower than Woolworths but does not indicate much as Wesfarmers is more diversified than Woolworths. Hence, it is likely that some of the businesses of Wesfarmers tend to reduce the overall profitability of the operations. (Brealey, Myers Allen, 2008). Analysis of Trends in Income Statement Revenue and Profitability There has been increase in the revenue but the same is accompanied with corresponding increase in the cost of goods sold and hence the margins at the gross level have remained stable. In the year FY2014, there was a goodwill impairment charge amounting to $ 677 million on account of Target brand and therefore the profit slumped (Wesfarmers, 2015). The relevant profitability ratios are presented below (Wesfarmers, 2015; Woolworths, 2015) From the above, it is apparent that the profitability margins of Wesfarmers at the net level seemingly have improved considerably which is also driving the return on assets. However, this is primarily because the FY2014 net profit was adversely impacted by a goodwill impairment charge of $ 677 million. Hence, accounting for the impairment charge, there is not much difference in the profitability margins. However, the corresponding margins (both at the gross and net levels) are significantly higher that of Woolworths. However, one factor that could attribute to this difference is the operations of Wesfarmers in energy, industrial safety, chemical and fertilisers which might boost of higher gross margins thereby accounting for the above figure (Wesfarmers, 2015).. With regards to supermarket business, both are rivals in a price sensitive market and hence the profitability margins would not differ significantly considering the leadership position both enjoy (Petty et. al., 2015). With regards to the ROA or return on asset, seemingly Woolworths has an advantage. But again businesses such as mining, chemicals and fertilisers are highly capital intensive business which would not generate handsome returns on assets primarily at a time when demand from China is languishing. Hence, it would be imprudent to read these numbers in great detail and draw pivotal inferences as the two businesses are not exactly comparable and the difference in business models are driving the difference between the ratios to some extent. However, the noteworthy trend is that for Woolworths there is a market decrease in the net profit margins and also ROA which is indicative of higher competition existing in the supermarket space (Smyth, 2015). Trends in Cash Flow Statement With regards to cash flows of Wesfarmers, there has been not much movement or change in the cash flow generated from investing and financing activities. But the same cannot be said about cash flow on account of investing activities which has seen a significant change. In FY2014, the company exited the insurance business and hence a cash outflow to the tune of $ 337 million was incurred for the insurance deposit acquisition. In the same year there was a cash inflow to the tune of $ 2,641 million on account of interest sale in a subsidiary (Air Liquide WA). In FY2015, there has been acquisition of some new subsidiaries that has resulted in a cash outflow to the tune of $ 339 million (Wesfarmers, 2015). Trends in Market Performance Wesfarmers market performance is compared with that of Woolworths during the given period and tabled below (Wesfarmers, 2015; Woolworths, 2015) From the above data, it is apparent that the EPS for Wesfarmers is 216 cents in FY2015. In comparison to Woolworths, Wesfarmers has reported a much higher EPS. This is despite the fact that PAT for Wesfarmers is only marginally higher than Woolworths. Further, the dividend yield for Wesfarmers has declined owing to the decrease in the dividend paid per share. The dividend per share is however at same level for the year 2015. The dividend yield has actually deteriorated for the year 2015 from 9.1% of 2014 in the case of Wesfarmers. Woolworths on the other hand has improved from 3.7% in 2014 to 5% in 2015 as the per share dividend has marginally increased and the price has corrected in FY2015. Conclusion Recommendation Based on the analysis above, it may be concluded that with regards to profitability both at the gross level and also the net level, Wesfarmers has an edge on Woolworths which to an extent may be related to the highly diverse businesses that Wesfarmers has. Due to the ongoing price wars in the supermarket segment, there is intense pressure on margins and going forward the company can increase margins only by enhancing operational efficiency and cutting down on the costs (Parrino Kidwell, 2011). The short term liquidity for both Wesfarmers and Woolworths is comparable. The ratios obtained in this regard are characteristic of the industry where receivables are typically low. With regards to capital structure also, both companies are well placed as the debt seems to be a fraction of the overall equity. This ensures that the companies are well placed for availing more debt funding in case it is required. Payment of interest would not be an issue as the current operating profits are more than 10 times the interest expenses (Brigham Ehrhardt, 2013). With regards to market performance, Wesfarmers tends to have a higher EPS and the same is reflected in the higher stock price also. However, in order to create value for the shareholders, it would make sense for the company to spin off certain businesses especially which are capital intensive and list the same on the bourses. Even though Wesfarmers at the present seems to be a better bet than Woolworths, but still the investor must not invest in Wesfarmers. This is because majority of the revenue for the company is generated from Coles or the supermarket business and owing to weak trading environment coupled with high competition caused due to entry to German discount retailers such as Aldi, it is likely that the volume growth on the top line would be muted and also the margins would not expand significantly while they may shrink (Chung, 2016). References Brealey, R, Myers, S Allen, F 2008, Principles of Corporate Finance (Global edition), 10th edn, McGraw Hill Publications, New York Brigham, EF Ehrhardt, MC 2013, Financial Management: Theory Practice, 3rd ed., South-Western College Publications, New York Chung, F 2016, Moodys rings Aldi alarm bell for Coles, Woolies, news.com, Available online from https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/moodys-rings-aldi-alarm-bell-for-coles-woolies/news-story/5fa28b85abb45c9e06b89b1c9f502fea (Accessed on August 30, 2016) Damodaran, A 2008, Corporate Finance, 2nd edn, Wiley Publications, London Parrino, R Kidwell, D 2011, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 3rd edn, Wiley Publications, London Petty, JW, Titman, S, Keown, AJ, Martin, P, Martin JD Burrow, M 2015, Financial Management: Principles and Applications,6th edn, Pearson Australia, Sydney Smyth, J 2015, Foreign competitors sour Australian grocery sector, The Financial Times, Available online from https://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/351943ae-14b0-11e5-a51f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz4IoHlrdI0 (Accessed on August 30, 2016) Wesfarmers 2015, Annual Report 2015, Wesfarmers Website, Available online from https://www.wesfarmers.com.au/investors/reports-results-presentations.html (Accessed on August 30, 2016) Woolworths 2015, Annual Report 2015, Woolworths Website, Available online from https://www.woolworthslimited.com.au/page/Invest_In_Us/Reports/Reports/(Accessed on August 30, 2016)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)