The annual report is a summary of the corporation?s operations over the previous 12-month time period and
states the corporation?s plans for the future. Many annual reports are created to resemble a corporate
brochure, using lots of pictures, color, charts, and graphs. Despite the fancy look,
the main purpose of the report is to provide the year?s financial data, which comes from the corporation?s
accounting system.

Obtain a current annual report for any U.S. company you are interested in analyzing. You may download it
from its Website or from the LRC database called Mergent Online. Each student must choose a different
company to analyze; therefore students must receive approval of the selected company from the professor by
Week 5 of the class.

1. Identify and explain the main sections of the annual report.
2. Discuss the key factors that influenced the company?s financial performance during the year.
3. Discuss the primary assets held by the company.
4. Explain how management characterizes the internal control environment of the company.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
1. Identify and explain the fundamental concepts and principles in accounting, the components of the
accounting equation, the primary financial accounting equation, and financial statements and reports.
2. Analyze the basic concepts related to accounting information systems.
3. Use technology and information resources to research issues in financial accounting.
4. Write clearly and concisely about financial accounting using proper writing mechanics