Analysis of Microsoft Financial Statements

In accounting there is much to be learned, about the financial aspects of a business. In the past five weeks I have learned the importance of financial reports and how they relate to the success of an establishment. These reports may include balance sheets and income statements, which help accountants and the public grasp the overall financial condition of a company. The information in these reports is really significant to, managers, owners, employees, and investors. Managers of a business can take and deduce financial

A balance sheet gives an overall picture of a company's financial situation by showing the total assets of a business, including liabilities plus equity. Current assets can include cash, accounts receivable, inventory and prepayments for insurance. The balance sheet is used by investors to get an idea of what the shareholders have invested, including

1. What are the factors that likely explain the difference between Microsoft’s market value of equity and its reported book value of equity?

1. This question addresses the effect of Microsoft’s software capitalization policy on its financial statements. Ignore any potential tax effects.

The statement of cash flows breaks down the cash exchange of the long term debt for the past two years. Under the Financing Activities portion of the cash flows statement it shows the long term debt broken down intoproceeds from and repayment of bank loans. The calculations of the changes in the past two years are expressed below in thousands:

Microsoft earned more on the dollar of their net income for each dollar of the stockholder's equity.

Microsoft is in an industry that makes it more difficult to apply DuPont analysis averages to determine its financial health. Microsoft obviously operates

Each company must prepare financial statements to provide a comprehensive picture about its past performance and situation for the owners, the managers, the state and other stakeholders as well. In the case of enormous, international public limited companies like Ford and Microsoft these statements and data are public, so anybody can reach them through the internet. Moreover, we can also compute a lot of financial ratios based on these data. If we want to get an authentic frame about the firms, we have to know what these statement and ratios mean. In addition, it’s difficult for the companies that they want to give other picture about their financial status to

Microsoft's struggles might seem somewhat perplexing, given its stunning success with Windows and the fact that it seems to have pursued a 'related linked' diversification strategy of primarily concentrating on products 'linked' to technology. It has not acquired businesses that are fundamentally anathema to its core product. "Companies' implements related diversification strategies in order to achieve and

The “financial statements are formal reports providing information on a company's financial position, cash inflows and outflows, and the results of operations” (Hermanson, p.22). There are four main components that make up a financial statement. The four parts are, balance sheet, income statements, cash flow and, statement of owner’s equity. The balance sheets role is to define the company’s assets liabilities and revenue of the business. The income statement shows the income within the company. Cash flow reviews the position of the company by cash payments and receipts. Lastly, the statement of owner’s equity shows the amount of earnings, stock and other capitals of people in the company. (Hermanson, p.34-35).

This essay plans to focus on the corporate strategy of Microsoft, and show how Microsoft has used diversification successfully within their corporate strategy to gain a competitive advantage.

Attached is an Income Statement from 2005 to 2007 (Microsoft Corporation Annual Report, 2008). As you can see, revenues and net income have continued to increase over the years. Earnings per share have increased as well. This shows that Microsoft is in a good financial standing. This means they are able to pay their shareholders and increase what they

This paper provides the horizontal and vertical analysis of the income statement and the balance sheet. Equally, financial ratios have been computed to show the leverage, liquidity, efficiency, profitability and the equity of the Hewlett Packard enterprises. Recommendations and conclusion have been made on the results depicted by the analysis. Lastly, an evaluation was made on the different ways that stakeholders utilize the financial statements.

This report is issued in order to inform the public about Microsoft Corporation. We analyzed the profitability and liquidity of this company. In addition, we were able to provide recommendations for investments or credits in Microsoft for the best interest of the public.

Micosoft was founded on 4th April 1975 by Bill Gates & Paul Allen and is headquartered in Redmond, Washington (USA). The company provides employment to more than 89000 people. Microsoft recorded revenues of $62000 million in the financial Year 2010 (Microsoft, 2011).