4.99 See Answer

Question:


“Numbers! I need to see numbers!” exclaimed Marcus in response to com- ments made by the assistant vice-president of Finance, Jeff Smith. Marcus Lenovo, president and chief executive officer of Duralex Inc., had been instrumental in significantly increasing the company’s size during his first five years in office. He spearheaded some successful marketing campaigns and revamped the production facilities by adopting the latest technology in injection molding. He also implemented various cost-cutting measures and introduced performance plans to boost efficiency. Foremen and supervisors were offered stock option incentives, and bonuses were tied to earnings per share (EPS) growth.
Duralex Inc., a medium-sized plastic molding company, was founded in 2008 and was located in Midland, Michigan. The company supplied molded plastic products to various processing industries as well as end-users. It enjoyed a fairly diversified base of customers, ranging from automobile and home products manufacturers to the federal government. After an initial period of sluggish growth, the firm’s revenues and profits had almost quadrupled. Most of the increase had been achieved under Lenovo’s lead- ership. The plastics business offered potential for high profit margins, and as a result it attracted many competitors. Despite the fierce competition, Duralex’s stock, which traded in the over-the-counter market, had tripled in value over the past five years, making the shareholders very happy.
Recently, however, the stock price had dipped sharply, raising concerns among security analysts. Jeff Smith, the assistant VP of finance, brought this matter to Marcus’s attention informing him that the analysts had given their closest rival, APEX Molding, a “strong buy” rating while downgrading Duralex’s rating to a “Hold.” This recent development had outraged shareholders, and the personal relations department had been overwhelmed with calls from anxious owners wanting to know what was going on.
Marcus, a motivated leader, was not about to give up easily, however. His track record of turning companies around was very good. He knew that if he could identify the main problem areas, he would be able to make some strategic moves to alleviate the problems. He therefore demanded that he be given a detailed report of the firm’s financial condition in comparison to that of APEX Molding. Marcus had learned over the years that in order to be successful, it was very important to “play the numbers game.”




















Table 1
Duralex Incorporated
Annual Balance Sheets (Values in Millions) 


2015 
2014 
2013 
2012 

ASSETS 





Current Assets 





Cash and Marketable Securities 
3.2 
4.8 
5.0 
0.6 

Accounts Receivable 
46.1 
59.6 
50.1 
20.9 

Inventory 
27.4 
24.1 
25.3 
12.8 

Other Current Assets 
4.1 
7.6 
6.9 
0.4 

Total Current Assets 
80.8 
96.1 
87.3 
34.7 

Non-Current Assets 





Property, Plant & Equipment, Gross 
94.2 
98.7 
87.9 
47.7 

Accumulated Depreciation & Depletion 
38.3 
31.4 
27.7 
19.3 

Property, Plant & Equipment, Net 
55.9 
67.3 
60.2 
28.4 

Intangibles 
121.4 
172.2 
182.0 
32.8 

Other Non-Current Assets 
7.7 
8.3 
10.5 
3.5 

Total Non-Current Assets 
185.0 
247.8 
252.7 
64.7 

Total Assets 
265.8 
343.9 
340.0 
99.4 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES 





Current Liabilities 





Accounts Payable 
20.5 
23.8 
20.5 
9.7 

Short-Term Debt 
6.6 
5.6 
3.5 
3.9 

Other Current Liabilities 
35.0 
33.7 
35.7 
12.9 

Total Current Liabilities 
62.1 
63.1 
59.7 
26.5 

Non-Current Liabilities 





Long-Term Debt 
215.2 
221.3 
222.3 
30.7 

Deferred Income Taxes 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Other Non-Current Liabilities 
3.0 
2.9 
0 
0 

Minority Interest 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Total Non-Current Liabilities 
218.2 
224.2 
222.3 
30.7 

Total Liabilities 
280.3 
287.3 
282.0 
57.2 

Shareholder’s Equity 





Preferred Stock Equity 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Common Stock Equity Total Equity 
−14.5
−14.5 
56.6
56.6 
58.0
58.0 
42.2
42.2 

Total liabilities and Stock Equity 
265.8 
343.9 
340.0 
99.4 

Total Common Shares Outstanding 
7.7 Mil 
7.2 Mil 
7.6 Mil 
6.6Mil 

Preferred Shares 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Treasury Shares 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Table 2
APEX Molding
Annual Balance Sheets (Values in Millions) 


2015 
2014 
2013 
2012 

ASSETS 





Current Assets 





Cash and Marketable Securities 
0.3 
1.1 
0.3 
2.9 

Accounts Receivable 
17.9 
16.1 
13.0 
7.0 

Inventory 
12.9 
11.7 
9.4 
3.9 

Other Current Assets 
1.7 
1.3 
1.4 
1.7 

Total Current Assets 
32.8 
30.2 
24.1 
15.5 

Non-Current Assets 





Property, Plant & Equipment, Gross 
42.6 
36.9 
27.8 
20.3 

Accumulated Depreciation & Depletion 
15.5 
11.1 
7.1 
3.9 

Property, Plant & Equipment, Net 
27.1 
25.8 
20.7 
16.4 

Intangibles 
30.0 
31.1 
18.2 
1.9 

Other Non-Current Assets 
0.2 
0.6 
1.0 
2.2 

Total Non-Current Assets 
57.3 
57.5 
39.9 
20.5 

Total Assets 
90.1 
87.7 
64.0 
36.0 


LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES 





Current Liabilities 





Accounts Payable 
6.9 
7.1 
5.3 
2.0 

Short-Term Debt 
6.7 
5.8 
2.7 
2.7 

Other Current Liabilities 
6.5 
7.1 
5.3 
2.7 

Total Current Liabilities 
20.1 
19.9 
13.2 
7.4 

Non-Current Liabilities 





Long-Term Debt 
25.8 
28.0 
18.7 
5.4 

Deferred Income Taxes 
0.1 
0.5 
0.0 
1.4 

Other Non-Current Liabilities 
3.0 
3.9 
3.9 
0.8 

Minority Interest 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Total Non-Current Liabilities 
28.9 
32.4 
22.6 
7.6 

Total Liabilities 
49.0 
52.3 
35.8 
15.0 


Shareholder’s Equity 





Preferred Stock Equity 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Common Stock Equity 
41.1 
35.4 
28.1 
21.0 

Total Equity 
41.1 
35.4 
28.1 
21.0 

Total Liabilities and Stock Equity 
90.1 
87.7 
64.0 
36.0 


Total Common Shares Outstanding 

4.3 mil 

4.3 mil 

4.3 mil 

4.1 mil 

Preferred Shares 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Treasury Shares 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Table 3
Duralex Incorporated
Annual Income Statements (Value in Millions) 


2015 
2014 
2013 
2012 

Sales 
297.0 
294.0 
252.4 
129.3 

Cost of Sales 
222.2 
184.5 
160.0 
84.1 

Gross Operating Profit 
74.8 
109.5 
92.4 
45.2 

Selling, General & Admin. Expenses 
39.4 
54.5 
47.1 
26.8 

EBITDA 
35.4 
55.0 
45.3 
18.4 

Depreciation & Amortization 
18.3 
16.2 
14.7 
5.7 

EBIT 
17.1 
38.8 
30.6 
12.7 

Other Income, Net 
−0.5 
0.6 
0.3 
0.1 

Total Income Avail for Interest Exp. 
−49.2 
24.4 
30.9 
12.8 

Interest Expense 
22.4 
20.3 
15.6 
5.2 

Minority Interest 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Pre-Tax Income 
−71.6 
4.1 
15.3 
7.6 

Income Taxes 
0.1 
2.1 
6.6 
0.3 


Special Income/Charges 
−65.8 
−15.0 

0.0 

0.0 

Net Income from Cont. Operations 
−71.5 
2.0 
8.8 
7.3 

Net Income from Discont. Opers. 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Net Income from Total Operations 
−71.5 
2.0 
8.8 
7.3 

Normalized Income 
−5.7 
17.0 
8.8 
7.3 

Extraordinary Income 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Income from Cum. Eff. of Acct. Chg. 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Income from Tax Loss Carry forward 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Other Gains 
0.0 
0.0 
−5.1 
0.0 

Total Net Income 
−71.5 
2.0 
3.7 
7.3 






Table 4
APEX Molding
Annual Income Statements (Value in Millions) 


2015 
2014 
2013 
2012 

Sales 
123.6 
106.7 
85.7 
43.2 

Cost of Sales 
82.6 
69.2 
55.5 
27.2 

Gross Operating Profit 
41.0 
37.5 
30.2 
16.0 

Selling, General & Admin. Expenses 
21.3 
19.9 
16.8 
9.6 

EBITDA 
19.7 
17.6 
13.4 
6.4 

Depreciation & Amortization 
5.7 
4.7 
3.7 
2.1 

EBIT 
14.0 
12.9 
9.7 
4.3 

Other Income, Net 
0.0 
0.0 
−0.1 
−0.1 

Total Income Avail for Interest Exp. 
14.0 
12.9 
9.6 
4.2 

Interest Expense 
3.0 
2.3 
1.8 
0.5 

Minority Interest 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Pre-Tax Income 
11.0 
10.6 
7.8 
3.7 

Income Taxes 
3.7 
4.0 
3.2 
1.5 

Special Income/Charges 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 


Net Income from Cont. Operations 

7.3 

6.6 

4.6 

2.3 

Net Income from Discont. Opers. 
0.0 
0.0 
0.3 
0.0 

Net Income from Total Operations 
7.3 
6.6 
4.9 
2.3 

Normalized Income 
7.3 
6.6 
4.6 
2.3 

Extraordinary Income 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Income from Cum. Eff. of Acct. Chg. 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Income from Tax Loss Carry forward 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Other Gains 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 

Total Net Income 
7.3 
6.6 
4.9 
2.3 







Questions:

Jeff Smith realizes that the first thing he must do is compare the liquidity, leverage, activity, and profitability ratios of the two companies. Using the Income Statement and Balance Sheet data shown in Tables 1–4, prepare a detailed comparison re- port indicating the strengths and weaknesses of each company.
Jim Clancy, a recently hired intern has suggested to Jeff that he should include an analysis of common size statements in the report. Is Jim right? Of what use is such an analysis? Please prepare such an analysis and explain your answer.
Jim has also recommended that a DuPont analysis be done. How can such an analysis be performed, and what information does it indicate about the relative performance of the two companies?
What are some limitations regarding the various analyses that have been suggested above? What additional data would Jim and Jeff need to improve their findings? Are there any other calculations and comparisons that would be helpful? Please explain.
After collecting, compiling, and analyzing the data, what conclusions and recommendations would Jeff be justified in making in his report to Marcus?
In your opinion, how acute is the problem facing Duralex, Inc.? What strategic moves do you think Marcus could make to alleviate the problems?
How accurate are the analysts in their recommendations of the two firms?




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> Can a business manager’s religious beliefs factor into the business’s hiring treatment of same-sex partners? Why or why not?

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