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In 2003, Steve Hash, research director at Lehman Brothers, prepared to initiate the firm's "Ten Uncommon Values" stock-picking process for the year. An investment committee had to pick the 10 best stocks from about 100 stock ideas presented by the firm's analysts. The performance of the stocks selected for the Ten Uncommon Values had historically been strong--an investment strategy to acquire the recommended stocks and hold them for one year would have outperformed the S&P 500 for 39 of the last 54 years. However, during the latest three years--2000 to 2002--the recommendations had performed poorly, generating an average return of -22.5% vs. -11.7% for the S&P 500. Hash pondered several questions: What was the importance of the Ten Uncommon Values for Lehman Brothers and its clients? How much time and effort should the firm put into the process of selecting stocks for the report? How many members should be on the Investment Policy Committee, and who should be selected? What should the process for selection be? Should analysts whose stocks were selected be compensated for their picks? Finally, should they continue the process? Teaching Purpose: Using both qualitative and quantitative data, to allow students to discuss a range of issues: the optimal process of selecting stocks, the optimal size of the committee, how much time to spend with each analyst, private or public voting on stocks by the committee members, the right decision-making process, and whether incentives play a role in the process.

Prudential Insurance Co. attempted to diversify into financial services by building an investment banking franchise. Prudential's initial foray into the industry was its acquisition of The Bache Group in 1982. In 2000, the company decided to exit investment banking. The firm adopted various strategic positions and human resource management strategies during the 18 years it struggled to compete successfully against prestigious incumbents. Although Prudential's efforts to establish a top-tier investment bank ultimately failed, other firms did succeed in this endeavor.

Just a few years ago, the U.S. stock market was the envy of the world. Thanks to new technology, friendly regulation, and the innovativeness of the financial services industries, it was open to anyone, anywhere, anytime. Americans poured into the market by the millions, and the more they invested, the more liquid, accessible, and attractive the markets became. The world is much less jealous today. Belatedly, investors have come to recognize that the vaunted business models of the new economy were more effective at consuming capital than generating it. The recent stock market and corporate governance failures, the authors argue, are rooted in regulatory and market changes introduced 20 years ago. These were intended to reduce the cost of financial information and increase liquidity--enhancements that the regulators believed would improve both investor access to the market and efficiency in pricing. The goal of liquidity was achieved, but the changes also triggered a race for the bottom in the auditing profession, destroyed the economics of investment analysis, and discouraged professional investors from relying on their own rational judgment. In this article, the authors explore what went wrong and outline their ideas for radical reform. They propose putting the country's stock exchanges in charge of the audit process; creating a new Investors Union modeled on the highly successful Consumers Union; and introducing a graduated tax on trading in pension savings.

Four firms in the airline industry illustrate the underlying differences in valuation multiples (price-earnings and price-to-book).

Krispy Kreme is a rapidly growing firm with a business model that has excited Wall Street.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 103018.

Examines the valuation of United Parcel Service (UPS) at the time of its IPO in mid-1999. Offers students the opportunity to assess UPS's current performance relative to its major competitor, Federal Express (FedEx), and to judge whether that performance is sustainable. Students then make projections of UPS's future earnings performance, estimate on IPO price, and assess the reasonableness of their estimate compared to the valuation of FedEx and best-in-class leaders.

Spreadsheet supplement for case 103015.

Sanjay Kumar, the CEO of Computer Associates, faces investor communication challenges following the company's implementation of a new business model and the accompanying change method used to recognize revenue. Despite management's confidence that the new business model is working effectively, the firm's stock price falls significantly and a major shareholder challenges management through a proxy contest.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 103007.

Provides a framework for understanding the role of financial reporting and various intermediaries as mechanisms for reducing both adverse selection and moral hazard problems in capital markets. Financial reports reduce adverse selection by providing basic information for investors and their agents before they make initial capital resource allocation decisions. Subsequently, after capital is allocated to particular business ventures, financial reports reduce moral hazard between managers and investors by supplying information used in contracting between investors and managers to reduce conflicts of interests. Various institutional mechanisms and information intermediaries monitor and limit the manipulation of reported information by managers and constrain managers' ability to act in their own self-interest, rather than investors' interests. They also improve information production, reduce incentive conflicts, and enable capital markets to function effectively and efficiently, channeling the economy's savings to the most productive opportunities.

Amid mounting concern by credit agencies about off-balance sheet liabilities, an analyst for one of the leading credit-rating agencies has been asked to make a presentation about off-balance sheet liabilities, the strategic analysis behind leasing versus purchasing property, and accounting for leases.

Introduces students to the concepts of inventory valuation (LIFO and FIFO) using a simple example. They then get the chance to apply this knowledge to help understand the inventory footnote for California Steel Industries.

Supplements the (A) case.

Prepares students for financial ratio analysis.

Spreadsheet Supplement for case 101029

Discusses merger and acquisition accounting.

Dot-coms provide unique financial reporting situations.

Using historical cost and conservatism to identify and value assets, this case explains the criteria for asset reporting in straightforward situations and then examines scenarios where implementing the criteria for recognition and valuation of assets is conceptually challenging. These more complex situations occur when: 1) Ownership or control of a resource is uncertain; 2) The economic benefits from outlays are uncertain or difficult to quantify; or 3) Resource values have changed.

Recording expenses is not often clear-cut and can require considerable management judgment. This case discusses expense recognition in straightforward situations and then considers expense transactions that may be more complex to record. It uses examples that include situations in which: 1) The value of resources consumed is difficult to define; 2) Resources provide benefits for multiple years; 3) Resources are consumed, but the timing and amount of future payments is uncertain; and 4) Unused resources have declined in value.