Business

Answer the following questions and complete the following problems, as applicable:

You may solve the following problems algebraically, or you may use a financial calculator or Excel spreadsheet. If you choose to solve the

problems algebraically, be sure to show your computations. If you use a financial calculator, show your input values. If you use an Excel

spreadsheet, show your input values and formulas.

Note: In addition to your solution to each computational problem, you must show the supporting work leading to your solution to receive

credit for your answer.

Question 1:
Proficient-level: “As owners, what rights and advantages do shareholders obtain” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016, p. 211)?
Distinguished-level: Describe the disadvantages to owning stock.
Question 2:
Proficient-level: “Why might the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index be a better measure of stock market performance than the Dow Jones

Industrial Average?” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016, p. 211).
Distinguished-level: Explain how the Dow Jones Industrial Average is more popular than the Standard and Poor’s 500.
Question 3:
Proficient-level: “What are the differences between common stock and preferred stock?” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016, p.

211).
Distinguished-level: Describe the similarities between common stock and preferred stock.
Question 4:
Proficient-level: “On May 19, 2015, the Dow Jones Industrial Average set a new high. The index closed at 18,312.39, which was up

13.51 points from the previous day’s close of 18,298.88. What was the return (in percent to four decimal places) of the stock market for

May 19, 2015?” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016).
Distinguished-level: Identify the three most recognized U.S. market indexes.
Question 5:
Proficient-level: “At your brokerage firm, it costs $9.50 per stock trade. How much money do you need to buy 300 shares of Time

Warner, Inc. (TWX), which trades at $22.62?” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016).
Distinguished-level: Based on the amount of commission paid, state whether a traditional full-service broker or a discount broker

is being used.
Question 6:
Proficient-level: “Financial analysts forecast Safeco Corporation (SAF) growth for the future to be a constant 8 percent. Safeco’s

recent dividend was $0.88. What is the value of Safeco stock when the required return is 12 percent?” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016,

p. 213).
Distinguished-level: Re-calculate the value of stock, assuming a one percent increase in the growth rate.
Question 7:
Proficient-level: “A preferred stock from Duquesne Light Company (DQUPRA) pays $3.55 in annual dividends. If the required return

on the preferred stock is 6.7 percent, what is the value of the stock?” (Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016, p. 213).
Distinguished-level: Explain why the growth rate of preferred stock is 0%.
Question 8:
Proficient-level: Ultra Petroleum (UPL) has earnings per share of $1.56 and a P/E ratio of 32.48. What is the stock price?”

(Cornett, Adair, & Nofsinger, 2016, p. 213).
Distinguished-level: Explain how the P/E model computes what is referred to as the stock’s relative value.

Submit your completed assignment as an attachment in the assignment area. You may use either a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet for

your work, but not both. Prior to submitting your assignment, review the Valuing Stocks Scoring Guide to ensure you have met all of the

requirements and as a self-assessment of your work.
Reference

Cornett, M. M., Adair, T. A., & Nofsinger J. (2016). M: Finance (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.