Hatfield Medical Supply’s stock price had been lagging its industry averages, so its board of directors brought in a new CEO, Jaiden Lee. Lee had brought in Ashley Novak, a finance MBA who had been working for a consulting company, to replace the old CFO, and Lee asked Novak to develop the financial planning section of the strategic plan. In her previous job, Novak’s primary task had been to help clients develop financial
Novak began by comparing Hatfield’s financial ratios to the industry averages. If any ratio was substandard, she discussed it with the responsible manager to see what could be done to improve the situation. The following data show Hatfield’s latest financial statements plus some ratios and other data that Novak plans to use in her analysis.
Hatfield Medical Supply (Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Data)
Selected Additional Data for 2018
Using Hatfield’s data and its industry averages, how well run would you say Hatfield appears to be compared to other firms in its industry? What are its primary strengths and weaknesses? Be specific in your answer, and point to various ratios that support your position. Also, use the DuPont equation (see Chapter 7) as one part of your analysis.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 9 Solutions
Intermediate Financial Management (MindTap Course List)
- Hatfield Medical Supplys stock price had been lagging its industry averages, so its board of directors brought in a new CEO, Jaiden Lee. Lee had brought in Ashley Novak, a finance MBA who had been working for a consulting company, to replace the old CFO, and Lee asked Novak to develop the financial planning section of the strategic plan. In her previous job, Novaks primary task had been to help clients develop financial forecasts, and that was one reason Lee hired her. Novak began by comparing Hatfields financial ratios to the industry averages. If any ratio was substandard, she discussed it with the responsible manager to see what could be done to improve the situation. The following data show Hatfields latest financial statements plus some ratios and other data that Novak plans to use in her analysis. Hatfield Medical Supply (Millions of Dollars, Except per Share Data) Selected Additional Data for 2019 Using Hatfields data and its industry averages, how well run would you say Hatfield appears to be in comparison with other firms in its industry? What are its primary strengths and weaknesses? Be specific in your answer and point to various ratios that support your position. Also, use the DuPont equation (see Chapter 3) as one part of your analysis.arrow_forwardCarl Kerns is one of the directors of the board. Carl said that as a board member they are given the profit and cash flow budgets. He was appointed by the board to conduct an internal audit of operations to look for weaknesses in the internal control system. His report uncovered the following processes that he believed needed to be strengthened. While the overall customer base is increasing from year to year, there may be internal control issues relating to how these new customers are secured. Some discounts that were being given to customers were recorded as a net amount on the invoices and gave no indication of the discount from standard prices. Some cash registers in the stores were not reconciling the cash in drawer with the register printout. Not all timesheet overtime amounts were being authorized by the line manager. Service invoices for some items of equipment were not signed or linked to a purchase order. There was no check that the work had been carried out. Not all assets…arrow_forwardYou are the management accountant at Xero Ltd and have been trying to persuade your boss, the finance director, that your role should change. You have read about Burns and Scapens' report 'Accounting Change Project' and think that it suggests an interesting change from your current roles of preparing and reviewing budgets and overseeing the production of management and financial accounts. Your boss is sceptical but is willing to listen to your arguments." a. “Explain the changes and what is driving these changes in the role of the management accountant based on Burns and Scapens work." "(Maximum word count: 500 words)"arrow_forward
- Matt, a Senior Manager for a small CPA firm, had not been able to sleep through thenight in weeks. Due to economic hard times, and unexpected turnover, the firm was understaffedand overworked with the busy season approaching. Matt was responsible for standard managerialduties such as scheduling and budgeting, but had recently taken over several other roles becauseof the turnover, so he felt pressure from a lot of angles to fulfill all of his responsibilities.Sustainable Directions had been a client for seven years and it was the first account thefirm’s Partner had won. Sustainable Directions is a privately held company that supportsenvironmental conservation by offering products made of 100% recyclable materials. During thedecline, Sustainable Directions was still able to provide job opportunities, and offered continuoussupport to the community. Sustainable Directions was important to the CPA firm not onlybecause of the Partner, but also because the client provided 30% of the firm’s…arrow_forwardYou are working in a mid-size company for the last couple of years. Recently you are promoted as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and excited to perform your new role efficiently. David Savage, Chief Operation Officer (CEO) of your company has decided to implement an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. David Savage has met with a consulting ERP firm based on a recommendation from a friend at his club. During a recent meeting, David Savage introduced the chief consultant, who was charming, was personable, and seemed very knowledgeable. The CEO’s first instinct was to sign a contract with the consultant, but he decided to hold off until he had received your input.Required:David Savage asked you to write a memo presenting the issues and the risks associated with consultants. Further, outline a set of procedures that could be used as a guide in selecting a consultant.arrow_forwardRichmond, Inc., operates a chain of 44 department stores. Two years ago, the board of directors of Richmond approved a large-scale remodeling of its stores to attract a more upscale clientele. Before finalizing these plans, two stores were remodeled as a test. Linda Perlman, assistant controller, was asked to oversee the financial reporting for these test stores, and she and other management personnel were offered bonuses based on the sales growth and profitability of these stores. While completing the financial reports, Perlman discovered a sizable inventory of outdated goods that should have been discounted for sale or returned to the manufacturer. She discussed the Situation with her management colleagues; the consensus was to ignore reporting this inventory as obsolete because reporting it would diminish the financial results and their bonuses. Required: According to the IMA’s Statement of Ethical Professional Practice, would it be ethical for Perlman not to report the inventory…arrow_forward
- Doug Dalton , majority stockholder and president of Dalton, Inc., is working with his top managers on future plans for the company. As the company's managerial accountant, you've been asked to analyze the following situations and make recommendations to the management team... Please finish all of requirement 4 because I am very confused! Thanks!arrow_forwardYou work for a firm of management consultants that offers assistance to new businesses. One of your clients is Blossom Manufacturing, a company that manufactures a small, but vital, component for the specialized lighting industry. Blossom is a new company (and a new client for your employer) and you have been assigned the task of advising it of its options for financing its inventory during the first few months. The marketing experts have told you that Blossom should have at least three months of inventory on hand so it can meet all demands from its customers. The annual production of the Blossom component is projected to be 140,400 units. Annual direct labour and direct material costs together are estimated at $351,000 per year. Variable manufacturing costs are estimated to be $210,600 per year; fixed manufacturing costs are projected to be $585,000 per year. Fixed marketing and administration costs are estimated at $819,000 per year. These projections are all for the company's first…arrow_forwardRH Bhd is just starting up. The management team has decided from the beginning that decentralization was the preferred organizational style and has made this clear in all interviews and discussions with potential employees. Mr. Pang, the CEO, is unsure about the best way to evaluate his division managers. He has heard the terms return on investment, residual income, economic value added, and flexible budgets but wants to know the pros and cons of each. Electronic Telephone Systems (ETS), a division of RH Bhd buys and installs modular office components. For the most recent year, the division had the following performance targets: Asset turnover Profit margin Target rate of return on investments for RI Cost of capital Income tax rate 2.5 6% 13% 10% 40% Actual information concerning the company's performance for last year follows: Total assets at beginning of year Total assets at end of year Total invested capital (annual average) Sales RM3,600,000 RM5,300,000 RM8,000,000 RM9,000,000…arrow_forward
- Consider the following conversation between Leonard Bryner, president and manager of a firm engaged in job manufacturing, and Chuck Davis, certified management accountant, the firms controller. Leonard: Chuck, as you know, our firm has been losing market share over the past 3 years. We have been losing more and more bids, and I dont understand why. At first, I thought that other firms were undercutting simply to gain business, but after examining some of the public financial reports, I believe that they are making a reasonable rate of return. I am beginning to believe that our costs and costing methods are at fault. Chuck: I cant agree with that. We have good control over our costs. Like most firms in our industry, we use a normal job-costing system. I really dont see any significant waste in the plant. Leonard: After talking with some other managers at a recent industrial convention, Im not so sure that waste by itself is the issue. They talked about activity-based management, activity-based costing, and continuous improvement. They mentioned the use of something called activity drivers to assign overhead. They claimed that these new procedures can help to produce more efficiency in manufacturing, better control of overhead, and more accurate product costing. A big deal was made of eliminating activities that added no value. Maybe our bids are too high because these other firms have found ways to decrease their overhead costs and to increase the accuracy of their product costing. Chuck: I doubt it. For one thing, I dont see how we can increase product-costing accuracy. So many of our costs are indirect costs. Furthermore, everyone uses some measure of production activity to assign overhead costs. I imagine that what they are calling activity drivers is just some new buzzword for measures of production volume. Fads in costing come and go. I wouldnt worry about it. Ill bet that our problems with decreasing sales are temporary. You might recall that we experienced a similar problem about 12 years agoit was 2 years before it straightened out. Required: 1. Do you agree or disagree with Chuck Davis and the advice that he gave Leonard Bryner? Explain. 2. Was there anything wrong or unethical in the behavior that Chuck Davis displayed? Explain your reasoning. 3. Do you think that Chuck was well informedthat he was aware of the accounting implications of ABC and that he knew what was meant by cost drivers? Should he have been well informed? Review (in Chapter 1) the first category of the Statement of Ethical Professional Practice for management accountants. Do any of these standards apply in Chucks case?arrow_forwardAssume you have been hired by Hilton Hotels and Resorts. As part of your new role in the accounting department, you have been tasked to set up a responsibility accounting structure for the company. As your first task, your supervisor has asked you to give an example of a cost center, profit center, and an investment center within the Hilton organization. Your supervisor is a little unsure of the difference between a profit center and investment center and would like you to explain the difference.arrow_forwardMeredith had an excellent management science course as part of her MBA program in college, so she realizes that break-even analysis is needed to help make this decision. With this in mind, she instructs several staff members to investigate this prospective product further, including developing estimates of the related costs and revenues as well as forecasting the potential sales. One month later, the preliminary estimates of the relevant financial figures come back. The cost of designing the grandfather clock and then setting up the production facilities to produce this product would be approximately $250,000. There would be only one production run for this limited-edition grandfather clock. The additional cost for each clock produced would be roughly $2,000. The marketing department estimates that their price for selling the clocks can be successfully set at about $4,500 apiece, but a firm forecast of how many clocks can be sold at this price has not yet been obtained. However, it is…arrow_forward
- Intermediate Financial Management (MindTap Course...FinanceISBN:9781337395083Author:Eugene F. Brigham, Phillip R. DavesPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines...AccountingISBN:9781337115773Author:Maryanne M. Mowen, Don R. Hansen, Dan L. HeitgerPublisher:Cengage Learning