Edward Devere - Earl Of Oxford Essays - Kings Men,

Edward Devere - Earl Of Oxford Edward DeVere - Earl of Oxford 1. Was DeVere an aristocrat or a writer? Writing was not a proper this for a gentleman/ aristocrat to do. No courtiers were allowed to write poetry. Because of this rule supposedly many men decided upon a pen name however, running against this rule most aristocrats did publish work throwing out oxfords need for a pen name. Therefore if DeVere did write the famous Shakespearean works the author would be known as DeVere rather than Shakespeare. 2. When did DeVere die? DeVere died in 1604 before the first staging of many of the Shakespearean plays such as; King Lear, MacBeth, Anthony and Cleopatra, Timon of Athens, Coriolanus, Pericles, Cymbeiline, The Winters Tale, The Tempest, and Henry VIII. Bacon however died in 1626 leaving 22 years for more works to be published and staged in his lifetime. 3. Why would someone be given the credit as the writer of only associated with writers and theater companies? DeVere was only associated as knowing people in the theater rather than being known to be involved with the production and writing of them. 4. When the Shakespeare Clinic tested the poetry of Shakespeare against the works of others how well did DeVeres match? not only did none of the works match but DeVeres was the farthest off. 5. How do you explain the 2 works that were ordered by King James in tribute to DeVere and his widow after their deaths? Eight Shakespeare plays were ordered after DeVere death in 1604. Nine years later 14 plays were ordered for DeVeres widows death. .......................................................................................................................................... Isaac Casaubon 1. What was Isaacs profession? He was French classical scholar & theologian (known to be one of the best of his time). 2. What was Isaacs schooling? Until he was 19 he was educated by his father, afterward he was sent to the Academy of Geneva, in 1581 he became a professor of Greek there until 1596. From 1596- 1599 he taught at the University of Montpellier. 3. What was Isaacs relationship with Bacon? He was a close friend of Bacons and proof read at least one of his works. Shakespeare Essays

Should I Go to One of the Big 10 Schools

Should I Go to One of the Big 10 Schools SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Big Ten is one of the most prestigious intercollegiate athletic conferences in the country. It has 14 member schools, most of which are located in the Midwest. While they’re all unique, Big 10schools have many commonalities and are known for emphasizing both athletics and academics. In this article, I’ll do the following: Give you the names of all of the Big Ten universitiesand provide information about each school Describe the attributes of Big Ten colleges Detail possible advantages and disadvantages of attending a Big Ten school Explain how to decide if you should attend one of the Big Ten schools What Is the Big 10? The Big 10 is one of the premier intercollegiate athletic conferences in the country.All of its member institutions are NCAA Division I schools with FBS programs.The Big Ten sponsors 28 official sports, 14 for men and 14 for women.Big Ten schools compete in a total of 42 sports, and they have combined to win more than 450 team and 1800 individual national championships. Confusingly, even though there were 10 schools in the Big Tenfor much of its history, now there are 14 schools that are part of the Big 10. TheBig Ten includes the following colleges: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Indiana University Bloomington University of Iowa University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Michigan Michigan State University University of Maryland, College Park, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Northwestern University The Ohio State University Penn State University Purdue University Rutgers University University of Wisconsin-Madison Northwestern is the only private college in the Big 10. The other schools are large publicuniversities.Maryland and Rutgers are the most recent additions to the Big Ten. They’re also the only east coast schools in the Big Ten. Rutgers is in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The rest of the Big Ten schools are in the Midwest. Want to get better grades and test scores? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. What Makes Big 10Colleges Unique? Big Ten schools offer big-time athletics at well-regarded academic institutions.Most of the Big Ten schools are in spirited college towns. The surrounding population proudly supports the school. The students, alumni, and residents of the area are generally big fans of the athletic teams and are eager to show their school pride. With the exception of Northwestern, these are among the largest schools in their respective states and some of the biggest schools in the country. Comparing Big Ten Schools I created a table with the undergraduate enrollments, average standardized test scores, and the acceptance rates of the Big Ten universities.Penn State has the largest undergraduate enrollment at almost 46,000. Northwestern has the smallest at 8,278. Also,Northwestern is the most selective school with an acceptance rate of only 15%. The schools are listed in order of their acceptance rates. School Location Undergraduate Enrollment Average SAT Score Average ACT Score Acceptance Rate Northwestern University Evanston, IL 8,278 1490 33 9% University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 28,921 1415 31 29% University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN 35,433 1360 29 50% University of Maryland College Park, MD 29,868 1380 30 44% University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 32,196 1390 30 49% The Ohio State University Columbus, OH 45,946 1350 30 54% Penn State University University Park, PA 40,835 1250 28 51% Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ 35,641 1300 28 57% Purdue University West Lafayette, IN 31,006 1290 29 57% University of Illinois Champaign, IL 33,955 1380 30 62% Michigan State University East Lansing, MI 38,996 1220 26 72% University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 20,954 1230 25 64% Indiana University Bloomington, IN 33,429 1250 28 76% University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 24,503 1240 26 86% Possible Advantages and Disadvantages of Attending a Big Ten School Even though most of the Big Ten schools are large public universities in the Midwest, it’s difficult to generalize all Big Ten schools. For example, the environments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Rutgers are quite different. Lincoln, Nebraska and New Brunswick, New Jersey are in different regions of the country. The demographics of their student bodies are strikingly different. Rutgers is 43% white while UNL is 78% white. Furthermore, 83% of Rutgers students come from New Jersey while 77% of UNL students come from Nebraska. At UNL, there are nine majors related to agriculture. At Rutgers, there is only one. The strengths, weaknesses, majors offered, locations, acceptance rates, and student bodies vary for each Big Ten school.However, you can make some generalizations about the pros and cons of attending a Big Ten school. Pros of Big Ten Schools Here are some of the biggest advantages of attending a Big Ten institution. School Spirit Big Ten schools offer very spirited environments. Most students who attend a Big Ten school seem to love their college. You can’t walk around campus or go to an off-campus bar or restaurant without seeing the college colors everywhere. During my multiple visits tothe University of Illinois, I saw thousands of students wearing orange and blue and many shops selling University of Illinois apparel and souvenirs. When I was in college competing for the gymnastics team at Stanford, we went to the University of Nebraska for NCAA Championships during my freshman year. I remember being at an off-campus Subway and seeing posters for the women’s volleyball and gymnastics teams at Nebraska on the wall.Sadly, I never saw a Stanford men’s gymnastics team poster in Palo Alto while I was at Stanford. Big-Time Football The Big Ten is one of the top football conferences in America.College football is ridiculously popular, and the Big Ten is one of the most prestigious football conferences in the country. On game days at UNL, the number of people inside of the football stadium would make it the third largest city in Nebraska.Four of the football stadiums in the Big Ten are among the 17 largest football stadiums in the country. A few years ago, I went to a college football game at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for its homecoming game. Wisconsin wasn’t playing a particularly good team, but the stadium was completely full, and people came from all over the state and country to attend and support the Badgers. There was more enthusiasm and energy there than at the handful of NFL games I've attended. Big-Time Academics Big Ten Schools are well-regarded academically.Northwestern is ranked as the #12 National University by US News.The other Big Ten schools are considered to be some of the best public universities in the country.US News ranks the University of Michigan as the #4 public university (#27 National University), University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin are ranked in the top 15, and many others are ranked highly as well. They Offer the Benefits of Large Universities Outside of Northwestern, Big Ten schools are all large public universities, so they offer all of the advantages of attending a large state school.They offer a wider variety of degrees and programs than smaller colleges.At Penn State, there are more than 160 different possible majors. For comparison, at Amherst College, one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country, there are only 38 different majors. At the University of Iowa, there are unique, specialized majors like actuarial science, rhetoric and composition, athletic training, and music therapy.At the University of Minnesota, you can major in construction management or apparel and textiles. Also, there are a wide variety of extracurricular activities.Because of the quantity of students at these schools, there are tons of student organizations, clubs, and fraternities and sororities.At the University of Maryland, there are 72 Greek organizations and 61 cultural organizations, including the Argentine Tango Club, the NAACP, the Pride Alliance, and the Vietnamese Student Association. At Johns Hopkins, a private college in Maryland, there are only 23 Greek organizations. Because public colleges are subsidized by state governments, the cost of attendance for in-state residents is lower.The tuition and mandatory fees for a Michigan resident at Michigan State University are $14,552, and they're $39,827 for an out-of-state student. At Northwestern, the lone private college in the Big Ten, tuition and fees are $56,232 annually. However, Northwestern does meet 100% of demonstrated financial need and provides generousfinancial aid packages. Tracy O/Flickr Cons While there are many advantages of attending a Big Ten school, there are some potential disadvantages. Not Geographically Diverse Because Big Ten schools are all state schools (with the exception of Northwestern), the majority of students are in-state residents. At private colleges, you can usually meet a greater percentage of out-of-state and international students. At private colleges, the cost of attendance is the same for in-state and out-of-state students, and many private colleges emphasize geographic diversity in their admissions and recruiting. For example, atRutgers, 83% of students are from New Jersey. Meanwhile, at Princeton, a private Ivy League school also in New Jersey, only 19% of students are from New Jersey. Part of the education process in college is about learning from your peers, and you can gain a different perspective and a better understanding of others if you’re surrounded by more people from different states and countries. Large Class Sizes Due to the size of most of the Big Ten schools, students often have to take lecture classes with hundreds of students, especially in introductory courses.At Ohio State University, the student-faculty ratio is 19:1 and 22% of classes have 50 or more students. At Kenyon College, a liberal arts college in Ohio, the student-faculty ratio is 10:1 and only 0.7% of classes have 50 or more students.Many students learn better in smaller classes where there is more interaction, and students can more easily ask the professor questions. Not Located in Urban Areas Many Big Ten schools are in college towns that are somewhat removed from urban environments and all they have to offer.I remember driving to Penn State and there didn’t seem to be any sign of civilization for two hours in any direction. Similarly, when I got off the plane in Champaign, IL for my recruiting trip to the University of Illinois, I saw corn fields and realized I was very far from LA. While other big ten schools aren't as rural as Penn State or U of I, most are located in smaller cities. Some notable exceptions are the University of Minnesota, which is located in Minneapolis, Northwestern (which seems to be the exception to all Big Ten generalizations), which is close to Chicago, Rutgers, which is close to New York City, Ohio State University, which is in Columbus, and the University of Maryland, which is close to DC. For most other Big 10 schools you're within an hour or two of a decently-sized city, but if you're hoping for urban life right on your doorstep, you may be disappointed. The Weather All of the Big Ten schools are in areas with relatively harsh winters. While the weather shouldn’t be the most important factor for you in choosing a college, some students enjoy attending a college in a temperate climate with year-round sunshine and 70 degree temperatures in the winter.If you’re from Florida or California, you’ll probably have to get some actual winter clothing before attending a Big Ten school. How To Decide if You Should Attend a Big Ten School If you're trying to decide whether or not to attend a Big Ten school, go through the same process you should go through when deciding which colleges to apply to and which one to attend.Decide the factors that are important to you in a college. Think about the location, selectivity, size, and the majors offered at the school, and determine how much each factor matters to you. Look at the school’s website, and use guidebooks, college finders, search websites, and ranking lists to help you in the college selection process. If possible, consult with teachers, parents, counselors, current students, and alumni.If finances are a big concern for you, wait until you receive your financial aid packages from the schools that accept you to determine what your out-of-pocket expenses will be for each school. Personally, I think that I would have really enjoyed attending a Big Ten school. When I was at Ohio State, Penn State, the University of Illinois, Nebraska, and the University of Wisconsin (those are the only Big Ten schools I’ve been able to visit), I was so impressed by and attracted to the spirited on-campus environments and the uniqueness of attending a school in a real college town. However, some students prefer the environment at a small college, or they don’t want to be at a school that places so much emphasis on athletics. If you're interested in colleges that are similar to Big Ten schools in offering big-time athletics and quality academics at a large public university in a college town, you may also be interested in the University of Texas-Austin, Texas AM, the University of Florida, or the University of California-Berkeley. If you would like to attend a private college that offers big-time athletics and quality academics, then Northwestern, USC, Stanford, Duke, and the University of Notre Dame may be good options for you. It’s important to find the school that best fits your personality and has the resources and environment that will best allow you to thrive and reach your academic and professional goals. What's Next? To help you figure out what you're looking for in a school, learn how to do college research. Also, read this article about whether you should go to a rural, urban, or suburban college. Finally, if you're looking for a diverse college, check out this post about the most diverse colleges in the country. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Amazon Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Amazon Inc - Research Paper Example In its recent endeavors, the company has been performing as a proven technology leader and has developed e-commerce innovations such as personalized shopping services, I-click ordering easy-to-use and other browse features. The company offers faster and safer credit transaction facility to its customers, and e4-mail communication with customers and direct shopping at competitive price worldwide (Amazon.com, Inc., 1998). The primary purpose of this paper is to identify Amazon’s current and future challenges along with the requisite competencies needed for its success. Current and Future Challenges Amazon has been successful in satisfying its customers’ needs with lower prices, vast selection and speedy delivery facilities. Nevertheless, the company has been currently facing intense competition from other online book merchants, mainly due to ease in new entry and low level of switching costs in the industry. Furthermore, the challenges in the form of competition are expec ted to increase in the future, making it more challenging for Amazon to achieve its goals and objectives. Notably, the security and privacy issues have always been a matter for challenge for the online business companies like Amazon. Despite, the adequate level of security and other facilities provided by the company, many customers decipher reluctance for conducting transactions over the internet. Additionally, the rapidly changing e-commerce environment has offered the company to make constant changes in its strategies in order to grow and adapt to the changing environment. Along with these challenges, the poor logistics and supply chain management has radically affected the ability of the company to earn substantial profits (Singh & Waddell, 2004; University of Washington, 1998). Competencies Required For Success Over the years, the company has been able to meet the needs of its customers more effectively and efficiently, which has rewarded the company to establish itself as one of the world’s largest online retailers. However, the constant changes in the online business environment, along with increasing competition has urged the company to focus on certain specific factors to strengthen its core competencies in order to retain its market position and attain success in the future. Hence, it can be argued that market orientation is a crucial factor for modern management in the e-commerce sector. It is also essential for Amazon to target the relevant needs of the targeted customers rather than emphasizing solely on the advancement of its technology approach. It is also equally important for the company to capture the arising market opportunities after assessing the upcoming risks in an efficient manner. In this regard, it is suggestible that the goals and strategies framed by the company should be in consistent with SMART (i.e. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Reliable and Timely). It is thus necessary for the company to establish effective planning, monitoring and controlling of its activities. Furthermore, the company should conduct market analysis as well as competitors’ analysis at regular intervals in order to acquire potential understanding about the prevailing market trends and competitors strategies. The company should also involve in developing leaders for future and ensuring greater success with increased competencies of the future leader to deal with the challenges in the most efficient manner. Nonetheless,

The Power Of Music In Literature Research Paper

The Power Of Music In Literature - Research Paper Example This close connection helps to create a very solid understanding of the literature itself and can bring the audience’s own feelings and emotions deeply into the action. Music in literature can often be used to express mood in literature, and this expression can be stronger than using the written word alone. Examples of music’s strength can be found in drama, especially Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. Shakespeare often uses music to create a strong emotional tone. By implementing music in his plays, Shakespeare was able to transcend his mood from the action and characters into his audience. His technique was quite successful, and besides his fantastic writing skills, this ability to combine literature and music allowed him to successfully demonstrate the feelings of his characters to his audience. Music, therefore, can be more powerful than the written word alone in literature, and by taking a close look at Shakespeare and the way he both used and understood music, we can gain a solid understanding of how music can create a strong feeling of emotion in the audience, backing up the action set in the play or piece of fiction. â€Å"Music oft hath such a charm to make bad good,† Shakespeare states in Measure for Measure. Shakespeare, therefore, realized the power of music and its ability to create and stir emotion in his audience. Shakespeare also realized that music could make something that seemed otherwise bearable quite bearable. In fact, the bard was so fascinated by music that many of his characters mention its power in his plays. He often uses music as a metaphor to compare its power to certain feelings, and it seems that the mere mention of music helps to make the words spoken even stronger.

Movie Review Shawshank Redemption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Movie Review Shawshank Redemption - Essay Example He accepts the punishment with dignity, not bothering about the social stigma associated, for he knows he is innocent. The Shawshank Prison reflects the drudgery and slowness of prison life, as is visible in most prison movie. The striking difference however, is the portrayal of Andy’s free and hopeful spirit, and how one free spirit can bring about a radical change in the environment. Andy has his shares of troubles in prison. The Shawshank prison reflects some of the rawest forms of human rights’ violation including â€Å"the Sisters† attempting to get Andy to perform oral sex for them. The movie is about a determined, hopeful human being with an unbending spirit breaking free from the shackles of misery. Andy, slowly but steadily, inches his way through the walls using a rock-hammer over a period of decades until he finally breaks free. Even during his stay in prison, Andy improves the quality of life of his inmates by helping establish a small prison library. His knowledge of Banking and Taxation help him to initially work with the corrupt warden, finally expose his misdeeds in public and leading him to commit suicide in the end. The movie perhaps trudges along a trifle slowly in the middle. That could well be a reflection of the leaden passage of time, the years of redemption one has to undergo before achieving salvation and experiencing freedom. The cinematography is near excellent. The damp blue, green, and grey walls, which at times seem like shades of black and white, reflect the characteristic dullness of prison life. The Shawshank Redemption is also a story of friendship between two souls – Andy and Red (Morgan Freeman). It is a story of how two individuals from contrasting backgrounds – one guilty of murder and the other innocent, come together to help each other. While Red, â€Å"the man who can get you anything in prison,† helps him get hold of a rock-hammer – the tool that helps him achieve his goal of

Report for potential investors in tesco plc

Report for potential investors in tesco plc The purpose of this report is for potential investors who are considering buying shares in Tesco plc. The report creates an overall picture of Tescos financial position and provides an assessment of Tescos performance over the last three years. The information used to assess the financial position of Tesco was gathered from the Annual report of the last three years. This information was downloaded from the official Tesco website. From that, the ratios were calculated from the financial statements within the report. Results Ratios 2004 2005 2006 Change (%) Return on capital employed 13.99% 14.77% 17.29% 19.09% increase Net profit Margin 5.17% 5.76% 5.78% 10% increase Asset Turnover 2.72 times 2.56 times 2.99 times 9.03% increase Current Assets 0.56 times 0.57 times 0.52 times 8.77% decrease Quick Ratio 0.35:1 0.35:1 0.33:1 05.71% decrease Gearing Analysis 35.35% 34.52% 28.38% 19.72% decrease Interest Cover 7.75 8.31 9.46 18.08% increase Earning per share 15.05p 17.44p 20.07p 25.01% increase Dividend Cover 2.13 times 2.29 times 2.57 times 17.12% increase Introduction The aim of this report is to provide an assessment of the companys performance over the three year period to a group of potential investors in the company. So this report will use nine financial ratios which are useful for the investors to help them to identify and highlight area of good and bad performance of the company and area with significant change. Therefore this report will consist: brief overview of the history of Tesco and Then it will analyse the profitability, liquidity, investment analysis of Tesco plc. The report will also advice potential investors on whether shares in this company would be a good investment. Brief Background on Tesco plc It is best known that Tesco Company is the leading retailer in the UK and one of the largest food retailers in the world. The retail industry is a highly competitive market. Tesco competes with a wide range of retailers with a wide range sizes and there face increased competition from UK retailers as well as international operators. Tesco also sell non food goods such as electrical goods and clothing. In general Tesco is a successful profitable company which attract investors to invest in the company. General Financial Analysis It is well known fact that the financial ratios become important for investors to help them whether they should buy shares in the business, sell them, or hold on shares which already own them. Therefore ratios analysis helps investors to identify and highlight area of good and bad performance of the company and area with significant change. In addition, financial ratios explain the relation between different figures in the financial statements consequently we could calculate hundred of ratios fro a set of financial statements, because of this we need to know which ratio provide a good and useful information for the investors , the ratios which are applied incorrectly they may be completely useless and misleading. However if they are used correctly they are useful for understanding the performance of the company and interpreting the company account. Ratios describe the relationship between different items in the financial; however the relative usefulness of each ratio depends on what aspects of a companys business affairs are being investigated. In this case of Tesco plc, there are four elements of ratios that are been analysed. These are Profitability, Liquidity and Investment analysis. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE): The ROCE is an important measure of the profitability of a company. This is because it is a popular indicator of management efficiency by contrasting the net profit generated by the company with the total capital employed (traditionally, total capital employed in this case has been taken to be the long term funding). It does not only incorporate the funds the shareholders have invested, but also funds invested by banks and other lenders, and therefore shows the productivity of the assets of the group. ROCE = PBIT ÃÆ'-100 Capital employed 2006 = 2,280 ÃÆ'-100 9,444 + 3742 = 17.29% 2005 = 1,952 ÃÆ'-100 4,563 + 8,654 = 14.77% 2004 = 1,729 ÃÆ'-100 7,990 + 4,368 = 13.99 These calculations show that the return on capital employed has been on steadily increasing for the past three years. For 2006, the ROCE is 17.29% which is 1.94 % above the average for the three years. This indicates that Tesco is using its invested resources more efficiently and that by comparing with other leading retailers, they ROCE are higher. This shows that this figure is more likely to be acceptable to potential investor. Comparison on Return on Capital employed Year Tesco plc J Sainsbury plc Morrisons 2004 13.99 7.99 6.01 2005 14.77 -2.56 5.1 2006 17.29 3.73 -5.63 Average 15.35 3.053333333 1.826667 Net profit margin is another widely used ratio in the assessment of company performance and in comparison with companies in the same industry. Net profit margin = Profit before exceptional items, interest tax ÃÆ'-100 Revenue (turnover) 2006 = 2,280 ÃÆ'-100 39,454 = 5.78 % 2005 = 1,952 ÃÆ'-100 33,866 = 5.76 % 2004 = 1,735 ÃÆ'-100 33,557 = 5.17 % From the calculation, it shows that net profit margin has been increasing slightly which shows Tesco have kept control of its expenses. Group sales have increased consistently through 2004/05 by 9.4% and in 2005/06 by 14.33%. (Note: in order for comparisons, two different figures were used in 05 sales due to the implementation of IFRS while the comparison for 04/05 was accounted under the standard of UK GAAP). As for PBIT, there was not much increase in 2004/05, however between 2005/06 there was an increase of 14.16 %. Comparison on Net profit Margin Year Tesco J Sainsbury plc Morrisons 2004 5.17% 3.23% 6.19% 2005 5.77 -0.99% 2.12% 2006 5.78 1.43% 2.17% Average 5.573 0.012 0.035 This shows Tesco average on net profit margin for the past three years is way above the averages of other leading supermarkets. This illustrates that in 2005 and 2006, Tesco profit margin is miles ahead. From this it can be concluded that it is a profitable company which has kept control of its expenses. The Asset Turnover is a measure of how much sales are generated by the capital asset base of a company. Asset turnover = Revenue (turnover) Capital employed For Tesco plc, asset for the three years are as follows: For 2006 = 39,454 13,186 = 2.99 times For 2005 = 33,866 13217 =2.56 times For 2004 = 33,557 12,358 = 2.72 times this shows that asset turnover is slightly increasing. This is due to the fact that revenue has increased considerably from  £33,557 in 2004 to  £39,454 in 2006 Comparison on Asset Turnover Year Tesco plc J Sainsbury plc Morrisons 2004 2.72 2.47 0.98 2005 2.56 2.57 2.59 2006 2.99 2.61 2.59 Average 2.7566667 2.55 2.053333 This shows that Tesco is above the average asset turnover for the market. From this it can be concluded that Tesco is generating more sales from its capital base. Liquidity Analysis It is clear that liquidity ratios analysis important to the investors as liquidity ratios related to the capacity of business to pay its short term debt as become due, therefore the focus is on the relationship between current assets and creditors due within one year, since these measure short term sources of cash and short term calls on that cash, there are two commonly used ratios which highlight such a situation: Current ratios (current assets/current liability) The current ratio measure the relationship between the companys current assets and its current liability in Tesco Companys balance sheet shows the current asset for 2006 3991 and current liability of 7518, the current asset for 2005 3224 current liability 5680, for 2004 current assets 3139 current liability 5618 Current ratios = currents assets Current liabilities For 2006 = 3919 7518 = 0.52 times For 2005 = 3224 5680 = 0.57 times For 2004 = 3139 5618 = 0.56 times It can be seen from the results the current ratio for Tesco company is stable between 2004 and 2005, however it fell slightly in 2006, this is because of the fact that there was an increase in current liabilities. Quick ratios (Current assets inventories) / current liabilities The quick ratios ignore the stock and concentrates upon those assets which can be turned into cash, the quick ratios important for investors who want to take share in Tesco Company where stock is turned over quickly and the sales are mainly on a cash, consequently the quick ratios compares liquid current assets with current liabilities. For 2006 = 3919 1464 7518 = 0.33: 1 For 2005 = 3224 -1309 5680 = 0.35: 1 For 2004 = 3139 1199 5618 = 0.35: 1 As it can be seen from the results the quick ratios test follow much the same trend on average over the three years of 0.34, which shows low level of resources are tied up in inventory. It can also be concluded that Tesco does not have any cash flow problems and therefore the company is using its resources well. Gearing Analysis An important determinant of a companys capacity to develop is its funding structure. This very important as it enables the company to assess its capacity to satisfy its long term commitment. The financial structure of a business is an important consideration when assessing the financial health of any entity. The most commonly used structure is the Gearing ratio, which quantifies the relationship between debt and equity. The higher the ratio then the more vulnerable the company is perceived to be this is because there is a high and fixed call on its profit before equity can be satisfied. This means that a company that has high gearing will has deal with its long term commitment such as long term debt and this in turn means they will be less fund for payment such as dividend for shareholders. Gearing Ratio = Long Term Debt ÃÆ'-100 Capital Employed For 2006 = 3742 ÃÆ'-100 9444 + 3742 = 28.38% For 2005 = 4563 ÃÆ'-100 8654 + 4563 = 34.52% For 2004 = 4368 ÃÆ'-100 7,990 + 4,368 = 35.35 % From these calculations, it shows that the long term debt has been decreasing steadily for the past couple of years while on the other hand the equity of the company has been increasing steadily, which indicate the finances of the company as moving towards equity and less on debt. Interest cover ratio: It is important to recognize that the interest cover ratio is important for investors as they measure the amount of profit available to cover interest payable. The high interest cover ratio it means that the company or business is easily able to meet its interest from profit. in the same way a low value from interest cover ratio it means that the business is in danger to meet its interest obligations therefore the profit available to the shareholder will be very low. In Tesco company the measure of interest cover ratio as follow: Interest cover ratio = profit before interest and tax Interest charge For 2006 = 2280 241 = 9.46 For 2005 = 1952 235 = 8.31 For 2004 = 1729 223 = 7.75 The measure of interest cover ratio of Tesco within the last three years tells us that the company maintaining increase in interest cover ratio 7.75, 8.31, 9.46 as a result Tesco is able to meet its interest from the profit therefore the profit are sufficient to pay the interest it owes and the profit available to the shareholder increased from 1729m in 2004 to 2280 in 2006. Investment Analysis Potential investors who want to buy shares in a company want to be able to have the information they require to compare the benefit from their investment. There are two measures of benefit to the investor: One is the profit of the period (usually referring to the profit available for the ordinary shareholders). The other is the dividend, which is the amount actually paid to the shareholders. Earning Per Share (EPS) EPS is a widely used measure of business performance and progress, and importantly the percentage change from year to year should be monitored for the trend. It explains to an investor the kind of return they could receive for each share during the accounting period. Therefore, it is important ratio as earning per share works out the average amount of profits earned per ordinary share issued. In accordance with FRS 14 Earnings per share, EPS must be disclosed on the face of the income statement. This means that when producing financial statements companies must disclose the EPS figures for investors to see. EPS = Earnings (profit) Number of equity share in issue For 2006 = 1,570 7,823 = 20.07p For 2005 = 1,344 7,707 = 17.44p For 2004 = 1,100 7,307 =15.05p As it can be seeing there has been a steady increase of EPS for the past of years. This indicates that potential investors would have an attractable return on there shares Dividend Cover The dividend cover ratio is another important ratio for potential investors as it measures the proportion of available profits which are issued to shareholders and the amount which is reserved by the company. In another words, the dividend cover ratio tells the investor how easily a business can pay its dividend from its profit. Dividend Cover = Profit after tax Ordinary dividend For 2006 = 1,570 609 = 2.57 times For 2005 = 1,344 587 = 2.29 times For 2004 = 1100 516 =2.13 times The measure of dividend cover ratio of Tesco plc for the last three years has shown a steady increase. It increased slightly from 2004 to 2005 and again in 2006. A high dividend cover means that a company can easily afford to pay dividend. For the last year (2006), the dividend covers shows that for every  £2.57 made in the profit,  £1 was issued to the shareholders Investment Advice Sales have risen by 14.94 %to  £39,454m Pre-tax profits are up by 24%, with earning per share increasing by 25% in 2006 from 2004. This result shows the excellent performance from all aspects of Tesco strategy. This is an extract from the Directors report for 2006: The directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 6.10p per ordinary share, to be paid on 14 July 2006 to members à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Together with the interim dividend of 2.53p per ordinary share paid in December 2005, the total dividend for the year will be 8.63p compared with 7.56p for the previous year, an increase of 14.2% This shows that Tesco plc strong performance is been implemented in dividend as can be seen in the increase of payment. Tesco faces strong competition from other leading supermarket, however with the management strategy implemented by Tesco and their huge experience which has given them good image (every little help!) and trust in the market as a leading retailer. Therefore, it will be worthwhile investment for those who are interested in earning money through share price fluctuations to invest in Tesco. Conclusion This report has used nine ratios to analyse and interpret the financial position of Tesco plc. There are many other ratios that could be used and will also assist in the interpretations of the financial accounts. Although there are limitations to ratio analysis such as; ratios are based upon past performance and hence there are historical data. However ratio analysis is one of the best ways to analyse the financial performance of a company. This is because, it allows managers to spot any problems and therefore concentrate resources on that area. If ratio analysis is interpreted the right way then it can be useful tool of results which can be understood by accountants and non-financial users such potential investors.

The Dream :: essays research papers

A dream is defined as a condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration. Throughout the book the â€Å"Great Gatsby† we see the dream of one man, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby’s dream is not merely what is known as the American Dream-the belief that anyone can rise to success no matter who they are or where they are from. Instead, it is a form of romantic idealism, â€Å"some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.† It is the belief in fairytales and princesses and happy endings, a faith that life can be special, remarkable, and beautiful. Gatsby is not interested in power or money instead he uses his power and money in his attempt to gain his ultimate dream, Daisy. He must have her and he will do anything that is required in order to win her. Unfortunately, Gatsby’s faith in love and happy endings is not a realistic one and his dream is ultimately crushed. However, one question is left behind, are dreams worth fighting for or should the fear of f ailure prevent one from attempting to fulfill their dreams.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In chapter I the reader is briefly introduced to Gatsby’s world. Nick describes Gatsby with such words as â€Å"crass and vulgar materialism†. However he admires Gatsby for his dream, his â€Å"romantic readiness,† his â€Å"extraordinary gift for hope.† What is this dream Nick admires so much? The reader is left with this question until chapter IV when Jordan Baker reveals Gatsby’s past and ultimately his dream. Jordan reveals to Nick that Gatsby and Daisy were one time lovers but Gatsby was suddenly called away to war and by the time he arrived home Daisy had already married Tom. Furthermore, Jordan explains, â€Å"Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay.† Nick shocked by what he has just learned states â€Å"he came alive to me, delivered suddenly from the womb of his purposeless splendor.† The large mansion, the Rolls Royce, station wagon, the motor boats, the aquaplanes, the swimming pool were not to display his wealth, but instead he just used them as a setting to build the material world necessary to fulfill his dream. He not only has built up a material world to attract Daisy he has come up with a plan to win her love. This plan is unfolded in Chapter IV, when the reader learns that Gatsby has arranged for Nick to invite Daisy for tea and makes sure Daisy doesn’t know he’ll be there, too.