Case Questions: Sears, Roebuck and Co. vs. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Answers must be posted to Compass. You may work in groups of no more than four people. Be sure to remember to submit ALL names and UINs on the assignment.
1. How do the retailing strategies of Sears and Wal-Mart differ? How does each firm operate their business/attempt to create value?
The major difference in these two companies’ retailing strategies, according to their filings in
2014, lies in the ways they expand their sales. Wal-Mart realizes its sales by opening new retail units both in the U.S. and abroad, broadening the scope of merchandise offered for sale, and committing to price leadership. According to its annual report, it prices items at a low price
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This requires a larger storage of inventory than grocery and entertainment goods, which Wal-Mart sells mostly.
Besides, in preparation for the fourth quarter holiday season, Sears significantly increases its merchandise inventory levels, which may have some effect on its reported inventory levels.
Apparently Wal-Mart is executing better because its cash conversion cycle is far smaller than
Sears.
4. How useful are financial ratios in evaluating the current performance of each of the two companies? Are there any distortions in the comparisons?
Most financial ratios are useful in evaluating their performance, including days inventory outstanding and days payable outstanding. However, since these two companies basically receive cash upon transaction, their days sales outstanding are significantly low compared to companies in other industries. Thus their receivable turnover ratios are less useful than other turnover ratios. Besides, because their accounts receivable levels are low, some of their liquidity ratios are low. Wal-Mart’s and Sears’ current ratios are 0.88 and 1.09. It appears that both companies have trouble satisfying short-term obligations, which is not the case. Similarly, working capital creates distortions in the evaluation of their performance as well.
5. How useful are financial ratios in comparing the relative performance of these two companies? Are there any distortions in the comparisons?
2. List the four basic types of financial ratios used to measure a company’s performance, give an example of each type of ratio and explain its significance.
Financial ratio analysis is a valuable tool that allows one to assess the success, potential failure or future prospects of the company (Bazley 2012). The ratios are helpful in spotting useful trends that can indicate the warning signs of
Since 1962 and the beginning of the discount retailer market Wal-Mart has been ahead of the retail game. By 1967 there were 24 Wal-Marts that had grossed 12.6 million dollars. In just 7 years Wal-mart had spread into 9 states. By 1979 Wal-Mart was the fastest store to reach a billion dollars in sales. In 2005 Wal-Mart has 3,800 domestic stores along with 3,800 stores internationally, and had made over 312 billion dollars. As you can see the Wal-Mart empire has grown monumentally. To move into this segment of the market would be tough.
2. List the four basic types of financial ratios used to measure a company’s performance, give an example of each type of ratio and explain its significance.
Wal-Mart’s current ratio is 0.93, Target current ratio is 1.11 and the industry ratio is 3.04.
2. Wal-Mart’s average ROE for the 1997 fiscal year was 19.7% [$3,525/($18,503+$17,143)/2] while Sears’ average ROE over roughly the same period was 22.0% [$1,188/($5,862+$4,945)/2]. Don Edwards was puzzled by these numbers because of Wal-Mart’s reputation as a premier retailer and Sears’ financial difficulties not long ago. Use the 3-step DuPont method to break down the ROE calculation and determine what is driving the individual performance of each of these two companies during
1. Please conduct a financial ratio analysis using the data in Exhibit 2. How do the results reflect different strategies pursued by the 4 firms?
Don Edwards, a recent MBA graduate has been asked to analyze the financial performance of Sears and Wal-Mart. Although Wal-Mart is the industry powerhouse, its 20% return on equity (ROE) lags behind that of Sears’ 22%.
Financial ratios are great indicators to find a firm’s performance and financial situation. Most of the ratios are able to be calculated through the use of financial statements provided by the firm itself. They show the relationship between two or more financial variables that can be used to analyze trends and to compare the firm’s financials with other companies to further come up with market values or discount rates, etc.
In this case the concentration is on “Company Performance Measurement”, using the “Ratios”, before we answer to the question, we have to focus a bit on the “Financial Ratios”
Walmart and Amazon have become global, household names in the US and for good reason: both of these companies have revolutionized the way in which we shop. Amazon offers a convenient experience, and an ever-expanding selection of products whereas Walmart has a wide network of store locations and famously low prices. As investments, these companies highlight the dichotomous nature of the retail industry – brick-and-mortar vs e-commerce; high growth vs steady growth; US vs International; actual vs market expectations. This report provides an in depth comparative analysis between Walmart and Amazon. We will first summarize the industry and these companies, followed by an analysis of market position and financials, and finally an
How can financial ratios extend your understanding of financial statements? What questions do the time series of ratios in case Exhibit 7 raise? What questions do the ratios on peer firms in case Exhibits 8 and 9 raise?
The calculation of ratios is the calculation technique for analyzing a company’s financial performance that divides or standardize one accounting measure by another economically relevant measure. Financial ratios can be used as a tool to demonstrate financial statement users for making valid comparisons of firm operating performance, over time for the same firm and between comparable companies. External investors are mostly interested in gaining insights about a firm’s profitability, asset management, liquidity, and solvency.
The financial data of company does not tell us the entire position of an organisation and its performance over the year or certain period of time for comparative purposes. Therefore, the use of ratios
As I sat down several weeks ago to begin writing this case study, I struggled with how I wanted to lay the paper out, however, when I opened Lee Scott’s 21st century leadership speech that was part of the required reading, the following quote struck me as the essence of the whole case study, so I would like to share it with you. You know, we are in uncharted territory as a business. You won’t find any case studies at the Harvard Business School highlighting answers for companies of our size and scope. If we were a country, we would be the 20th largest in the world. If