For this assignment, due in Module Four, you will submit both a horizontal and vertical analysis of Starbucks’ accounts receivable, fixed assets, and debt financing. Use basic financial analysis to examine any horizontal and any vertical changes in Starbucks’ accounts receivable, fixed assets, and debt financing balances over time. Be sure also to discuss how Starbucks’ methods for accounting for receivables and evaluating uncollectible receivables, purchase of fixed assets, and methods of debt financing impact the recording process and presentation of financial statements (Critical Element II). In other words, what are this company’s methods for accounting for receivables and evaluating uncollectible receivables? What types of fixed assets are acquired, and what methods are preferred for debt financing? How do those affect how financial information is communicated? Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: II. Horizontal and Vertical Analysis: In this section, you will conduct horizontal and vertical analyses for the balance sheet and income statement accounts and report any significant observations for a two-year period. You should include a table of your calculations as an appendix to your analysis. Include all calculations in an Excel document. Specifically discuss the following categories: A. Accounts Receivable: 1.Use basic financial analysis to examine any horizontal changes in Starbucks’ fixed assets, intangible assets, depreciation, and amortization over time. 2.Use basic financial analysis to examine any vertical changes in Starbucks’ fixed assets, intangible assets, depreciation, and amortization over time. 3.Analyze Starbucks’ methods for fixed asset and intangible asset acquisitions as well as depreciation and amortization, including asset categorization. How do these methods affect the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows? C. Debt Financing 1.Use basic financial analysis to examine any horizontal changes in Starbucks’ short- and long-term debt over time. 2.Use basic financial analysis to examine any vertical changes in Starbucks’ short- and long-term debt over time. 3.Analyze Starbucks’ method of debt financing. In your analysis, you should address both current and long-term liabilities, including the issuance of bonds. Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Milestone One should adhere to the following formatting requirements: 2–3 pages (not including cover page or appendix), doublespaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font and the most current guidelines for APA formatting. Include all calculations in an Excel document.

Now that Michelle has all of the pieces of her marketing plan in place, the board is ready to see the final plan. She is apprehensive about this because the board needs to approve the plan for it to move forward. It is imperative that the plan addresses all of the marketing issues discussed to this point, and that it also includes a discussion of how MM will measure the success of the plan after it has been implemented..Michelle is happy with how the plan is being put into place. The date and time for the final board meeting has been set when she calls you.“How will we know if the new product launch is a success?” she asks. “How will we know if what you have suggested really worked? Since I started this company as an entrepreneur years ago, I feel like everything that happens here is my fault or my responsibility. Does that make sense?”“You’ve been so supportive to me during this whole process,” you say. “Leave it to me. I’ll think about what you’ve said over the long weekend and I’ll be ready to sit down and discuss the details as I prepare the final draft of the plan.”Based on your original goals and the plan you are putting into place, what will you tell Michelle?What will you measure to determine whether or not your new product plan for MM is a success?What about a contingency plan?Do you need to make recommendations for MM if things do not go the way you hope and expect them to

Imagine that you are part of the marketing management team at Home Plus, a regional discount big-box retailer who competes with Wal-Mart and Target. Home Plus currently focuses on offering a broad range of discount consumer goods, from small home furnishings and clothing to packaged goods and kitchenware. In addition to the discount lines, Home Plus carries some higher end clothes, shoes, and bedding. Some members of management believe that the best way to improve the company's competitive positioning is to concentrate more of its energies on the higher-end product lines. They have proposed that Home Plus double the number of luxury products it carries and halve the number of discount consumer packaged goods.In an essay, explain why you would agree or disagree with the proposed change in marketing strategy. Be sure to discuss both the proposal's advantages and its disadvantages.To ensure immediate feedback, please submit a response between 100 and 1000 words. Essay length alone will not necessarily result in a high or low score.