BUSI 532 is Liberty's MBA course in advanced financial statement analysis. Its graded work is seven spreadsheet homework assignments analyzing a company you choose, three discussion forums and a group project: a comprehensive report on a new company.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as BUSI 532 Advanced Financial Statement Analysis, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as BUSI532.
What BUSI 532 covers
The catalog description: This course examines advanced techniques for evaluating the financial stability of a company through its financial statements, and how the financial statements may be used for strategic planning and decision making.
The course examines advanced techniques for evaluating a company's financial stability through its financial statements and using the statements for strategic planning and decision making. The text is Penman, Financial Statement Analysis and Security Valuation.
The course guide gives brief descriptions only; follow each assignment's instructions for lengths and formats. Week 1 runs Monday to Friday and Weeks 2 to 8 run Saturday to Friday.
Textbook named in the published guide: Penman, Financial Statement Analysis and Security (2013). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
BUSI 532 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Discussion Board Forum 1 | 30 | Not set in the guide; follow the forum instructions |
| 1 | Homework 1 | 70 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 2 | Discussion Board Forum 2 | 50 | Not set in the guide; follow the forum instructions |
| 2 | Homework 2 | 100 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 3 | Homework 3 | 100 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 4 | Homework 4 | 100 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 5 | Discussion Board Forum 3 | 50 | Not set in the guide; follow the forum instructions |
| 5 | Homework 5 | 100 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 6 | Homework 6 | 100 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 7 | Homework 7 | 100 | A spreadsheet assignment; follow the homework instructions |
| 8 | Group Project | 200 | Not set in the guide; follow the project instructions |
Week 1: Discussion Board Forum 1
A forum discussion comparing and contrasting ideas from the opening chapters on investing and valuation. How to write BUSI 532 Week 1 Discussion Board Forum 1.
Week 1: Homework 1
The first spreadsheet assignment on your chosen company, setting up its financial statements for analysis. How to write BUSI 532 Week 1 Homework 1.
Week 2: Discussion Board Forum 2
A forum discussion comparing ideas on accrual accounting and valuation. How to write BUSI 532 Week 2 Discussion Board Forum 2.
Week 2: Homework 2
The second spreadsheet assignment on your company, applying the week's valuation methods. How to write BUSI 532 Week 2 Homework 2.
Week 3: Homework 3
The third spreadsheet assignment: reformulating your company's statements for analysis. How to write BUSI 532 Week 3 Homework 3.
Week 4: Homework 4
The fourth spreadsheet assignment: cash flow and profitability analysis of your company. How to write BUSI 532 Week 4 Homework 4.
Week 5: Discussion Board Forum 3
A forum discussion comparing ideas on growth and sustainable earnings. How to write BUSI 532 Week 5 Discussion Board Forum 3.
Week 5: Homework 5
The fifth spreadsheet assignment: growth and sustainable earnings for your company. How to write BUSI 532 Week 5 Homework 5.
Week 6: Homework 6
The sixth spreadsheet assignment: forecasting and valuing your company. How to write BUSI 532 Week 6 Homework 6.
Week 7: Homework 7
The seventh spreadsheet assignment, viewing your company's business through its financial statements. How to write BUSI 532 Week 7 Homework 7.
Week 8: Group Project
A comprehensive group report analyzing a new company with the course's methods. How to write BUSI 532 Week 8 Group Project.
How BUSI 532 is graded
The published guide totals 1,010 points. Homework 1 is 70 and Homework 2 to 7 are 100 each (670), Forum 1 is 30 and Forums 2 and 3 are 50 each (130), the group project 200 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Homework (7) | 670 |
| Discussion Board Forums (3) | 130 |
| Group Project | 200 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 940 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Module/Week 1 begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Friday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Modules/Weeks 2-8 begin on Saturday at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and end at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach BUSI 532
Choose your company for the homework carefully in Week 1: a public company with clean, recent 10-K filings and a business you understand. You will analyze it all term.
Download several years of its financial statements into a spreadsheet at the start, since every homework builds on them.
Questions students ask
What is the BUSI 532 homework?
A series of 7 spreadsheet assignments analyzing your individually chosen company, following Penman's methods week by week.
What is the BUSI 532 group project?
A comprehensive report, prepared by an assigned group, on a new company, due in Week 8 and worth 200 points.
Working through BUSI 532 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.