African Americans Fight For Liberation - 1670 Words

Strong. Determined. Beautiful. These are words that have been used to describe a race that through trial and tribulation has never faltered in their struggle for justice in an unjust world. African Americans fight for liberation in the early to mid-1900s has paid off in many ways, but it is their tenacious efforts in acquiring equality that has given them such acclamation. While it is clear that America’s history of African American oppression is explicitly cruel and barbaric, I argue that the aftermath of such a grim past has helped to affirm a culturally rich, strong, and resilient race. Through abuse, prejudice, and death, African Americans have remained strong by becoming united in times of duress, never losing hope in a better future, and remaining persistent in their efforts to change their social inequality. Thanks to the endeavors of many influential figures, both whites and blacks alike, slavery was abolished in 1865. With the liberation of millions of slaves came A merica s Reconstruction Period. Many white Southerners reacted to the abolishment of slavery with dismay. Some were willing to leave the South all together, while others resorted to violence because they were unwilling to accept a new relationship with former slaves. During this time, the meaning of freedom had become a subject of conflict, and newly freed African Americans sought to give a new perspective to that meaning (Foner and Mahoney, America s Reconstruction). During the ReconstructionShow MoreRelatedRhetorical Analysis Of I Am By Assata Shakur960 Words   |  4 PagesDuring the 70s, the fight for equal rights and Black power was a ravaging fight. Famous protesters such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Assata Shakur. In particular, Assata Shakur was a leader of the Black Power Movement (BPM). Through her struggles, Shakur educates her audience, this is written on a blog but spoken out loud at the time, on how there is racial bias and injustice. By applying a wide range of rhetorical devices, Shakur uses her position as a Black Liberation Army leader to motivateRead MoreRacial Leadership And The African American Political Thought From B Du Bois1260 Words   |  6 PagesUnited States we have had different views of racial leadership in Afro American political thought from W.E.B Du Bois to Booker T. Washington to Marcus Garvey who sought to lead African-Americans from the oppression they face. All three of these historical figures had different views on racial leadership and politics as well as the vision and direction that racial emancipation should take. W.E.B Du Bois argued that African-Americans should political, economic, and social freedom and advancement. BookerRead MoreAwa Thiams Arguement Against the Statement â€Å"Rape is to Women what Lynching is to Blacks†1708 Words   |  7 Pagesin Europe compared to the African American women shows an inaccurate judgment. If rape is to women compared to the raping of black, then what i s raping and lynching to the African American female? This is a paradox which Thiam explained. Indirectly European feminist Kate Miller is referring to white women being raped has her concern. Fighting for liberation of women, the black women is forgotten and also denied in this case. Thiam states during the colonial period African women suffered a double dominationRead MoreThe Foundations Of Racial Capitalism, Imperialism And Colonialism Essay1468 Words   |  6 Pagescolonialism have significantly shaped the existence of African people, and those of the diaspora. 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Alicia Garza along with her co-founders of the movement have hosted national conference calls focused on issues that are critical to working hard for the liberation of African Americans. The goal is accordingRead MoreThe Civil Rights Of The Vietnam War1701 Words   |  7 PagesIn 1967, 64 percent of all eligible African-Americans were drafted versus only 31 percent of eligible whites (Black 2009). This fact testifies to only a small portion o f why nearly all African-Americans found themselves protesting against the Vietnam War. The lack of civil rights in the U.S deterred many blacks from supporting Vietnam, a conflict aimed at liberating the rights of another people. African Americans were frustrated with a country who fought for other citizens and saw no purpose in fightingRead MoreBlack Women And The Black Men1345 Words   |  6 PagesBlack women have a long feminist tradition dating back to 19th-century activists such as Maria W. Stewart and Sojourner Truth, but their struggles are a tale of two fights. To be a black woman seeking liberation, one had to fight racial inequality and sexual inequality at the same time. Black women who were involved in the Black Liberation Movement were discriminated against sexually by black men who were oppressed by whites and felt they had to adopt patriarchal roles. Black women in the Women s MovementRead MoreThe Struggle For African American Liberation1242 Words   |  5 PagesIn the early 1960s, when both men entered the struggle for African American liberation, it were the factors that set them apart that shaped both their outlook and the way they contributed to fight for Black empowerment. While Malcolm rose to fame by means of fierce attacks on Whites, Carmichael participated in non-violent workshops to prepare himself for his participation in the Freedom Rides. The first time Stokely encountered Malcolm X in person was during an event at Howard University in 1961

Man s Conformity Hegemonic Masculinity - 1427 Words

Man’s Conformity to Hegemonic Masculinity The notion of hegemonic masculinity has altered the field of gender studies and many academic arenas. An idea popularized by R.W. Connell, hegemonic masculinity has played an integral role in the emotional development of American men, articulating the impact that this societal construction has had on the concept of American masculinity. It is a contested topic, yet the impacts that it has in terms of sexuality, struggles for power and political leadership, and gender identities are valid (Connell 830). Although difficult to fully achieve, it acts as a guiding force for the stereotypically masculine. Hegemonic masculinity assumes the subordination of all other forms of masculinity, placing it at the top of the social hierarchy. At the same time, the idea of hegemonic masculinity has served as a bridge between the growing field of men’s’ studies and female studies (Connell 829). Several authors share the premise that m en in American society conform to the standards of the social construct of hegemonic masculinity. In order to fully understand a more in depth evaluation of both why and how men conform to this social phenomenon, one must know how hegemonic masculinity is defined. This term was made popular by Connell’s work Gender and Power which critiqued the male social role and how hegemonic masculinity has developed (Connell 830). Scholars agree that hegemonic masculinity is characterized by â€Å"being emotionally detached andShow MoreRelatedLiterature Review Of The Old Spice Crews 968 Words   |  4 Pagesnecessary to answer your question effectively. Hegemonic masculinity and media consumption It appears that men are more likely to connect with campaigns that endorse the â€Å"patriarchic culture of aggression, male dominance and control† (Kluch, 2015, p373). For example, considering the two Old Spice advertising campaigns aimed towards attracting opposite sexes, males seemed more supportive of the campaign featuring Terry Crews. Crews’ campaign supported hegemonic masculine ideas including the following:Read MoreQueer Theory : Gender And Gender1975 Words   |  8 PagesI will be explaining the following; Queer Theory, Radical feminism, sex=gender, biology is not destiny, youth non conformity, hegemonic masculinity, transgender and gender based harassment. I have used these six concepts because they highlight how sexuality and gender are constructed by society. This construction causes a heterosexual norm, which some people do not identify under. I have focused on Queer Theory because it depicts what is considered ‘normal’ regarding gender and sexuality. I alsoRead MoreWhat I Call The Social Constructionist1259 Words   |  6 Pagesget a husband or keep their husband, this displays emphasized femininity. 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But, over the time, women are slowly absorbed into the board of director and they play a great role as well as a good impact in the improvement of the company. A new study suggested that, putting women on boards of directors is a good way to make companies more profitable and better governedRead MoreTraditional African Family19679 Words   |  79 Pagessimply click on it to take you to the appropriate handout.  © 2004, HarperCollinsPublishers Limited SOCIOLOGY THEMES AND PERSPECTIVES – Lesson Plans 1 Sociology Themes and Perspectives I n t r o d u c t i o n S O C I O L O G I C A L P E R S P E C T I V E S / Te a c h e r s ’ n o t e s INTRODUCTION Sociological perspectives Lesson 1 Sociological perspectives: glossary handout 1 Aim: Skills: Ti m e : Resources: Reading: to create a glossary of definitions for the Introduction: Sociological perspectives

Social Security A Brief History free essay sample

A paper on the history of social security up until today. This paper provides an analysis of the U.S. social security system. The author examines the history of social security creation, workings of the particular plans- disability and old age and survivor insurance, and how Americans tax dollars are selected and sent. This analysis also looks at the growing uneasiness regarding depletion of funds. America has been through many trying times throughout its young history. One of the most difficult times was the Great Depression. During this period many banks failed, the stock market crashed, and Americans everywhere were losing faith in the government. The government came up with different options on how they could guarantee the nations elderly of a decent income. In 1935, the government introduced their solution, Social Security. Since its inception, the Social Security program has been one of the most successful domestic government programs, providing economic protection for Americans of all ages. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Security: A Brief History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Qatar Country Risk

Executive Summary The study entails a critical country risk analysis on Qatar. The purpose of the study is to determine the degree of risk that Exin Global might encounter by entering the Qatari market. The study focuses on different categories of risk. The core categories include the firm-specific risk or the micro risk, country-specific risk and global specific risks. The firm-specific risk identifies the political risks that the firm might encounter in the host country.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Qatar Country Risk specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The likelihood of encountering goal conflict by entering into the target market is minimal because of the support given to foreign investments. The Qatari government promotes foreign investment through the foreign investment law. Moreover, the company’s success in the new market will also arise from the strong cultural and institutional frameworks. For e xample, the legal framework in Qatar promotes investment by enacting intellectual property laws hence protecting innovation. An efficient banking and financial system further characterize the country and it promotes currency convertibility. The high rate of globalization, an increase in environmental concern such as climate change, and cyber crime might affect the firm’s operational efficiency both in the local and foreign markets. Introduction Domestic and international market expansion is one of the most effective ways through which companies can achieve profit and wealth maximization. Exin Global is a multinational corporation established in the UAE’s consumer goods industry. The company specializes in the manufacture of household care products. The company’s Chief Executive Officer is interested in the company’s growth through international market expansion. The CEO is specifically interested in the firm’s expansion into Qatar as one of the eme rging economies. However, some of the firm’s directors are concerned with the business risk exposure that might arise from venturing into some countries. This aspect underscores the importance of understanding the country risk before the firm’s actual market entry. As a member of the company’s Business Development Committee, I have been tasked with the role of providing a broad country risk analysis for the most viable country that the firm should consider entering. PESTLE analysis of Qatar Political and legal environment Qatar has adopted a monarchical system of government. Moreover, the Qatar government identifies investment and international trade as one of the fundamental components in promoting a country’s economic growth. Subsequently, the country is characterized by minimal bureaucracies that hinder foreign investment.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF L earn More The Qatar government through the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has simplified the procedures required for foreign investors to establish a business in Qatar. However, foreign businesses are required to apply for a license from the relevant government departments depending on their intended business activity. Qatar has established strong political relations with foreign countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. Economic environment Qatar has depicted remarkable economic growth over the past decades. The country’s Gross Domestic Product has increased substantially as illustrated by graph 1 below. The growth in GDP is a strong indicator of the country’s positive economic performance. Thus, the consumers’ purchasing power has grown substantially due to growth in the per capita income. Graph 1: GDP in Qatar (â€Å"Trading Economics† par. 3) Social Environment The country’s social structure has changed substantially. The count ry’s society does not have cases of discrimination against foreign companies. For example, the country’s population has increased from 0.97 million in 2006 to 2.27 in 2014. The increase in the population indicates a potential growth in demand for consumer goods. Thus, the company might be able to generate the intended level of sales revenue. Graph 2: Population growth in Qatar (â€Å"Trading Economics† par.5)Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Qatar Country Risk specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Technological environment Qatar is characterized by strong infrastructural development such as transport and communication networks. The developments have remarkably improved the level of efficiency of conducting business in the country. Environment The Qatar government has implemented a strict legislation aimed at curtailing carbon emission. The motive of such legislation is to limit climate change. T herefore, the government is pressuring manufacturing companies to implement effective strategies aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Failure to comply with the law might result in a fine. Country risk analysis Krummel affirms that country risk is comprised of four main environments that include the political, debt manageability, anthropological and the economic risk (27). Subsequently, understanding the country risk analysis is essential determining the probability of multinational enterprises succeeding or failing in the in the international market. Thus, conducting country risk analysis is vital in evaluating a multinational enterprise capacity to generate cash flow. Therefore, country risk analysis is essential to improving the MNCs capacity in making long-term financial or investment decisions. Country risk varies across different countries. Subsequently, evaluating country risk enables MNCs to determine the most feasible foreign market to enter (Madura 439). Political risk The political risk in Qatar can be defined as moderate. First, the government is focused on promoting international trade. Subsequently, the Qatar government has ensured ease of currency convertibility by eliminating foreign exchange controls or restrictions. Therefore, foreign investors in Qatar can easily remit their profits to the parent country without any restrictions. Additionally, foreign investors operating in Qatar are not restricted to convert local currency into foreign currency. Therefore, Exin Global operations in Qatar will not be hindered by external currency inconvertibility. Rochon and Rossi assert that external currency inconvertibility occurs if foreign residents are limited from converting local currency into foreign currency (125). The ease of currency convertibility in the country is further increased by the country’s banking system. Qatar is characterized by an elaborate banking system and regulatory system. Qatar is currently in the process of implementing the Basel Standards to establish a strong banking system.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Financial risk factor One of the essential indicators of a country’s financial risk entails the interest rate. The rate of interest influences the cost of sourcing debt finance from commercial banks. The Qatar government has managed to maintain the rate of interest rate below 10%. In 2014, the World Bank estimated the lending interest rate to be 4.96%, which is substantially low. The graph below illustrates the trend in the country’s rate of interest from 2006 to 2014. Graph 3: Interest rate in Qatar (â€Å"Trading Economics† par. 2) The low rate of interest indicates that the country is likely to experience significant economic growth due to the ease with which businesses access financial credit. Moreover, the country is characterized by a moderate rate of inflation as illustrated by graph 3. The average rate of inflation in Qatar between 2005 and 2015 is estimated to be 3.48%. The country experiences fluctuations in the rate of inflation. In June 2008, the co untry’s rate of inflation reached its highest point at 16.59%. However, Qatar has managed to lower the rate of inflation significantly. By the end of October 2015, the rate of inflation in Qatar was estimated to be 1.7%, which is considerably low. Graph 4: Rate of inflation in Qatar (â€Å"Trading Economics† par. 6) The rate of inflation has a significant effect on the operation of Multinational Corporation. Sharan posits that if a â€Å"multinational company exports its products to countries characterized by high inflation rather than setting up a manufacturing unit in there, the exports are more likely to have a high competitive edge† (214). The low rate of inflation in Qatar is a strong indicator of the enabling economic environment in the country. Subsequently, Exin Global is likely to gain a high competitive edge by establishing a manufacturing unit in the country. In addition to the low cost of manufacturing, Exin Global is likely to benefit from the resu lting low consumer price index because of the low rate inflation. The Qatar economy has been characterized by a marginal change in the consumer price index as illustrated by graph 5 below. Graph 5: Consumer Price Index (â€Å"Trading Economics† par.5) The marginal change in the CPI indicates that the cost of living in Qatar has not increased significantly. Hence, the firm will benefit from the high consumer purchasing power. Consumers in Qatar will be in a position to afford Exin Global products. Therefore, the demand for consumer goods is likely to be stimulated. Similar to other countries in the Gulf region, Qatar has adopted a fixed exchange regime. The rationale behind the adoption of the fixed exchange regime is to ensure the stability of the country’s currency. Currently, the fixed rate of exchange is pegged at QAR 3.64=USD 1. The Qatar government expects the exchange rate to remain stable until the end of 2016 (â€Å"Trading Economics† par.8). By establi shing business operations in Qatar, Exin Global is likely to achieve the desired sales growth in sales. The growth in sales will arise from the stable exchange rate. Assessment of risk factors Macro-assessment of country risk Macro-political risk According to Madura, macro assessment of country risk entails consideration of the diverse variables that are likely to affect country risk (253). Undertaking a macro-assessment of country risk will give Exin Global a broad understanding of the general factors that are likely to affect the company’s operation in the host country. The degree of political risk in a country influences the performance and ease with which multinational corporations conduct business operations in the foreign market. Qatar is located in a region characterized by a significant level of instability and social unrest. One of the notable sources of social unrest relates to the recent Arab Spring that led to the emergence of new political regimes. Moreover, the rate of terrorism in the region is substantially high. The prevalence of these issues in the region might adversely affect investor confidence. Despite the cases of terrorism and social unrest in the MENA region, Qatar is characterized by minimal political unrest (â€Å"AMB Country Risk Report† 3). Therefore, the level of investor confidence in Qatar has not been affected adversely. Due to the minimal cases of social unrests in Qatar, Exin Global is likely to operate smoothly in the host country. Moreover, the likelihood of encountering loss due to social unrest is significantly low. Despite Qatar’s ranking amongst the peaceful countries in the MENA region, the sustainability of the peaceful conditions in the country remains to be a balancing act. The country has enacted foreign policies aimed at supporting the Muslim Brotherhood in the MENA region, specifically in Egypt (Hawser par. 5). The country’s foreign policy position might lead to the emergence of distru st amongst countries in the GCC and MENA regions. This aspect might affect the ability of the subsidiary firm established by Exin Global in Qatar capacity to export its products to the neighboring countries. Macro-financial risk Qatar’s economy is largely dependent on revenue generated from oil production. Qatar is the global leader concerning the production and exportation of liquefied natural gas. Over 90% of the country’s budget is funded using revenue generated from the exportation of oil (Parasie par.4). In spite of past positive economic performance, Qatar’s economy might be affected by fluctuation in global oil prices. A recent evaluation of the country’s economic performance by the International Monetary Fund [IMF] indicates that Qatar might experience budget deficit due to the low oil prices currently being experienced n the oil producing countries. Parasie asserts that the oil generating economies are characterized by booms and bursts (par. 5). The occurrence of a budget deficit might make the Qatari government consider increasing corporate and income taxes to cater for the budget deficit. Increasing the tax rate might adversely affect influence the company’s capacity to generate sales revenue due to a reduction in the consumers’ purchasing power. Micro-assessment The political risk affecting the fast moving consumer goods industry in Qatar is relatively low because of the support offered by the government. The Qatar government has established free economic zones such as the Doha Industrial Estate. The rationale of the Doha Industrial Estate is to promote the establishment of medium and light scale industries. Furthermore, the Qatar government offers investors in the free economic zones a tax holiday depending on the nature of their manufacturing activities. Therefore, Exin Global might benefit from establishing a manufacturing unit within the designated free economic zones. For example, the tax holiday will culminate to a reduction in the cost of operations. Subsequently, the firm will be able to establish operations in Qatar. Techniques for assessing country risk To assess the country risk, it is imperative for the company’s management team to undertake an extensive country risk assessment. First, Exin Global management team should conduct a comprehensive reconnaissance on the new market. The firm can achieve this goal by sending the Business Development Committee members to Qatar to assess the attractiveness of the market. During the inspection visits, the Committee should interview government officials, consumers, and industry executives on the uncertainties that are likely to be encountered in the target country. The firm might conduct a quantitative analysis by evaluating the historical data. This move will play a critical role in determining how the firm is sensitive to risk the risk factors. Moreover, the Business Development Committee should further consider integrating the Delphi technique. Under this technique, the organization should seek the independent opinion of industry analysts or experts regarding the country risk. The Delphi technique is critical to understanding the perceived country risk (Madura 450). Alternatively, the business might consider developing a checklist to be used in rating the risk factors. Based on rating, Qatar can be defined to be relatively stable as illustrated in Table 2 below. The table shows that the overall assessment of the country’s risk is stable as indicated by a comparison between the previous and current rating. Measuring country risk Before making the decision on the most appropriate foreign country to enter, the company’s management may consider comparing country risk rating. Based on this approach, the company’s management team will be able to make a decision on the most attractive country to enter. In this case, a comparison of the risk rating between Qatar and Kuwait shows that Qata r is the most attractive market. The overall assessment of Qatar has remained stable with a rating of B while that of Kuwait has declined from a rating of B to C. Qatar Kuwait Risk ratings Current Current Previous Previous Current Previous Previous Previous Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Overall assessment B 29 B 28 C 41 B 40 Government effectiveness risk C 46 C 46 D 68 D 68 Labor market risk C 43 C 43 C 57 C 57 Legal regulatory risk B 40 B 40 C 55 C 55 Foreign trade payments risk A 11 A 11 B 21 B 21 Labor market risk C 43 C 43 C 57 C 57 Tax policy risk A 19 A 19 B 31 B 31 Financial risk B 33 B 29 B 29 B 29 Security risk A 14 A 11 A 18 A 14 Macroeconomic risk A 15 A 20 B 30 A 20 Table 2: Comparison of country risk (â€Å"Economic Intelligence Unit† par.8) The rating scores range between 1 and 100, where a score of 100=most risky. Similarly, a rating of E represents the riskiest factor. Incorporating country risk in capital budgeting The company should further consider integrating country risk in its capital budgeting process. The rationale of integrating country risk in the capital budgeting process is to assess the likelihood of generating and sustaining positive returns in the long-term. To achieve this goal, the company may consider determining the adjusted cash flow and discount rate. The adjustment of estimated cash flow will enable the company to assess how its cash flows will be affected by the country risk in Qatar. Alternatively, integrating the country risk is also essential in the company’s effort to determine the most appropriate discount rate that the firm should consider in determining project cash flows. Importance of country risk analysis to Exin Global The process of undertaking country risk analysis will play a critical role in the company’s effort to evaluate the capacity to generate sales revenue by entering in Qatar. Understanding the country’s labor market r isk will enable the firm to determine the ease of sourcing and developing a strong human capital from the host country. Moreover, country risk analysis will aid in the determination of the ease of undertaking sales and manufacturing activities in Qatar. The attainment of this goal arises from the determination of different issues such as the degree of corruption, bureaucracy, the host government attitude to foreign investors and blockage of fund transfers. Minimizing country risk Exin Global should consider minimizing country risk by complying with the laws and regulations specified by the host government. Alternatively, the company should consider sourcing human capital from the host country. The company may consider customizing its products to meet the local market needs. This move will aid in ensuring that it products gain a high level of market acceptability. Effect of risk on the firm’s profitability The degree of country risk has a significant effect on the profitabilit y of MNCs. An economy characterized by a high country risk due to cases of security and political unrest means that country might not undertake sales and manufacturing activities without disruptions. Subsequently, the level of profitability might be reduced substantially. Moreover, political unrest might lead to loss of the company’s property hence stalling manufacturing activities. Actions taken by the government to protect the industry The Qatar government promotes foreign investment in the consumer goods industry through the enactment of the Foreign Capital Investment Law. According to the law, foreign companies operating in Qatar are not subject to expropriation. Additionally, the Qatar government does not restrict foreign companies from transferring equity ownership to either local or foreign investors. In addition to the above issues, the Qatar government protects foreign investors by enacting the intellectual property rights. Thus, investors can undertake product inven tion and innovation in the country. Conclusion International market expansion presents one of the most effective strategies that profit-oriented companies can adopt to achieve profit and wealth maximization. However, successful cross-border market expansion depends on how effective business executives understand the host country risk. Country risk analysis is critical in determining the degree of exposure that a multinational enterprise can encounter in the domestic and host country. It provides multinational corporations with a multidimensional view of the international business environment. Suggestions To enter the Qatar market, Exin Global should adopt different techniques in evaluating country risk. One of the most effective techniques entails cross-country rating to identify the most attractive market. Alternatively, the company should further undertake a continuous assessment of the country risk. The continuous assessment will provide the firm with insight on how the country r isks changes. Subsequently, it will be possible for the firm to undertake the necessary adjustments to its risk management processes. Works Cited AMB Country Risk Report: Qatar. 2015. PDF file. 2015. Web. Economic Intelligence Unit: Risk briefing; Qatar 2015. Web. Hawser, Anita. Report; Qatar faces geopolitical risk, 2012. Web. Krummel, Jacob. International banking business, Berlin: Drucker Humbolt, 2007. Print. Madura, Jeff. International financial management, Mason: Cengage, 2009. Print. Parasie, Nicolas. Qatar risks budget deficit in 2016 due to low oil prices, IMF says, 2015. Web. Trading Economics: Qatar 2015. Web. Rochon, Louis, and Sergio Rossi. The encyclopedia of central banking, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2015. Print. Sharan, Vyuptakesh. International business; concepts, environment and strategy, Delhi: Pearson, 2006. Print. This report on Qatar Country Risk was written and submitted by user Ellen Sharpe to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Financial analysis and comparison of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola The WritePass Journal

Financial analysis and comparison of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola Introduction Financial analysis and comparison of PepsiCo and Coca-Cola IntroductionReferences:Related Introduction Together both PepsiCo and Coca Cola are both companies that are known around the world for their goods. For decades now, these companies have been competitive against each other to â€Å"do better than† the other one, what some would call the â€Å"cola wars†. They individually offer a assortment of soft drinks; regular, diet, caffeine free and many other options for the public to choose from. Both of the companies also have quite a few different entities (or off springs) of their company, such as bottled water, energy drinks, and juices. Individually both PepsiCo and Coca Cola; better known as Pepsi and Coke, have produced goods for every income bracket. Inside this essay we will take a look into the two largest competing companies in the soft drink industry; Coca Cola and PepsiCo. Using financial data provided from 2004 and 2005, we will be able to use financial analysis, both vertical and horizontal, to verify the financial differences between the two companies. We should be able to make proper suggestions and recommendations with the review on both of the individual companies, income statements and balance sheets. The soft drink industry is one of the largest and assorted industries in the world; consumption in the United States alone is rated at 95%. Together Pepsi and Coke have dominated the soft drink industry, staying higher than any other competition for decades. Not only have they dominated the national market, but also have dominated the global market. Pepsi and Coke have triumphed over many obstacles, so that they may produce and distribute products in most countries around the globe. Both employ a strategy called â€Å"the follow up strategy†. When one launches a new product or service, the other is not far behind with a similar product or service. This strategy has been so effective within these two companies that it leaves other would be competitors oblivious to what just happened. Because of global success, both PepsiCo and Coca Cola have paid a price in one way or another regarding legal issues, precedents, and political opinions. Both of these companies are great examples that the power of influence is leadership. Since their influence is so powerful, they easily shut down competitors in the market as well as keep their moral and ethical values at a soaring level. According to the Forbes Super500 list of America’s largest public companies in 2003, both Coke and Pepsi are practically the same size. Pepsi was the 43rd-largest U.S. firm, just barely edging out Coke, which ranked 44th. This comparison was based on ranking sales, profits, market value and assets. Now let’s take a look at a more detailed comparison of these two companies. Within this analysis, the numbers will be represented in millions (100 is equal to 100 million). Beginning with a vertical analysis, used to do the comparison of the asset accounts categories, liability account categories, and the reports on liability accounts against asset accounts on the balance sheet. The principle for calculating a vertical analysis is current assets à · total assets. The starting point lies within the total assets for each company. In 2004, PepsiCo’s total assets were $27,987; in 2005 they totaled $31,727. Coca Cola’s assets were $31,441 for 2004 and $29,427 in 2005.   (Weygandt, Kimmel, Kieso, 2008). Now we must look at statistics on the balance sheets of each corporation. In 2004, Coke’s cost of merchandise sold were $7,674 equaling a ratio percentage of 24.4% of their total assets. In 2005 the cost of merchandise sold were $8,195 equaling 27.8% of the total assets. For Pepsi’s cost of merchandise sold, the totals were $12,674 equaling 45.3% in 2004 and $14,176 equaling 44.7% in 2005. Over a one year span the results of; PepsiCo had an increase of 5%, while Coke had an increase that year of 3.4%.   With this increase, the results do not necessarily mean a positive analysis, since the single figure does not disclose whether the increase is a positive measure.   A higher cost of sales may not be offset by higher revenues matching or exceeding the increased cost. Net income of PepsiCo in 2004 was $4,212 equaling a ratio percentage of 15.1% of total assets. In 2005, their net income was $4,078 equaling a ratio percentage of 13.2% of their total assets. This shows a 1.9% decrease in their net income between 2004 and 2005. Within the same period they also showed a decrease in the cost of sales. Coke on the other hand had a net income of $4,847 in 2004 equaling a ratio percentage of 15.4%. In 2005 their net income was $4,872 equaling a ratio of 16.6% of their total assets. This shows and an increase of 1.2% between 2004 and 2005.   Even though they experienced an increase of 1.2%, the increase of cost of merchandise sold had an increase of 3.4% only nets an additional 1.2%, making this a negative indication for Coca Cola. When comparing current assets and current liabilities to the total assets by taking a closer look at the consolidated balance sheets of these two companies for each year show that Pepsi’s total current assets were $8,639, in 2004, which equals a ratio percentage of 30.9% of total assets (for that year). For 2005, PepsiCo’s total current assets were $10,454 which equals a ratio percentage of 32.9% of total assets. From 2004 to 2005, they had an increase of 2% in their current assets. In contrast Coca Cola’s current assets were $12,281 equaling a ratio percentage of 39.1% for 2004 and $10,250 equaling a ratio percentage of 34.8%, in 2005; this shows a major decrease in their current assets. Although, there was a considerable decrease in their current assets, there was also a decrease in their current liabilities. These decreases in liabilities would be a positive indication for Coke instead of a negative one. In the area of current liabilities, we can see that in 2004 Pepsi’s total was $6,752 equaling 24.1%, and $9,406 equaling 29.9% in 2005. This shows that the increase of 2% within Pepsi’s assets is due to the company taking on more liabilities. Coke however had current liabilities of $11,133 equaling 35.4% in 2004, and $9,836 equaling 33.4% in 2005 which shows a decrease of 1% in their liabilities. This simply states that both companies had a larger percentage of liabilities to assets in 2005, compared to 2004 also taking into account that their current assets dropped 4.3%. To break that down even further, we look at the following figures. Coca Cola had a total liability in 2004 of $15,506 which equals 49.3% and in 2005 their total liabilities were $13,072 which equals 44.4%. That is a decrease in their liabilities of 4.9%. So while their assets dropped by 4.3%, their liabilities dropped even more. Horizontal analysis is the comparison of specific items account for a certain amount of numbers for the accounting period. This helps to determine the increase or decrease that has occurred by a percentage, a numerical change or trends over that time. There are two formulas that can be used to get this analysis. The first formula uses the current year amount and subtracts from that the base year amount, then take the difference and divide it by the base year amount.   The second formula divides the current year amount by the base year amount.   This gives the current yearly figure in a percentage for the given base year. PepsiCo’s total current assets for 2004 were $8,639 and $10,454 in 2005. The first horizontal analysis formula shows Pepsi had an increase of 121.01% of total current assets; over their 2004 base year figure. Coke’s total assets for 2004 were $12,281 and $10,250 for 2005 which shows a considerable loss. With these numbers it produces a loss percenta ge of 16.58% between 2004 (83.46%) and 2005. Moving onto liabilities, Coca Cola had $11,133 in total liabilities for 2004 and $9,836 for 2005, yielding a difference of 88.35% decreasing their liabilities by 11.65% from 2004 to 2005. For PepsiCo, their total liabilities for 2004 were $6,752 and $9,406 in 2005. Following the formula we can see that it shows an increase in their liabilities by 139.3% from 2004 to 2005, so for one year the total is 39.9%. Mutually PepsiCo and Coca Cola have reputations for being the major contenders in the soft drink industry. They have individually created well organized, strong, and profitable companies, but as you can see from the analysis done above that the financial data, shows a bit of a difference between the two financially. I can see adjustments that can be made and areas that can be worked on, and below I have made a few suggestions for the data I found. It can be determined from the information above that the net profits for both companies were less in 2005 than that of 2004. The operating expenses for both companies were higher in 2005 then 2004. Individually Pepsi and Coke should be working to decrease operation expenses and to increase profitability. Within Coca Cola, they suffered a decline in assets (4.3%) and their liabilities reduced by 4.9% from 2004 to 2005. The suggestion that I make for Coca Cola is they continue to reduce their liabilities, and work on raising net profits. This will increase their assets, As for Pepsi, they have a small increase in current assets between 2004 and 2005, but they had a substantial increase in liabilities. With a 5.8% increase in liabilities, there was only an increase of 2% within their assets. A suggestion I can make for PepsiCo is to focus efforts on their assets, to reduce their liabilities, and to not collect new liabilities. This way they can increase profitability. Looking into other years and comparisons, I see that Coca Cola gathers almost 53% of their annual revenue during spring and summer, whereas Pepsi seems to produce 30% more revenue in the later months of the year.   This is likely due to the fact that Pepsi also has snack (chips, etc) operations other than soft drinks, which is the preferred food of the season. There is also the topic of franchise systems. Pepsi has had success in the past with its franchise system; however, in recent years it has become a weakness for the company. The franchises   influence profits and revenues for Pepsi. My solution would be to dismantle the franchise system and replace it with one bottling unit. This will help Pepsi to eliminate competition with any private label companies and keep them on the forefront with Coke. Coca Cola believes in reinvesting into their infrastructure and does not operate a franchise system. When it comes to figures, Pepsi seems to have more advantages (other entities), whereas Coke is getting better figures.   This does not mean either company is better than the other, it shows that there is a tight competition between both companies and both are striving to surpass the other. References: PepsiCo.com. (2009).   Retrieved on: April 15, 2011 pepsico.com/index.html#/flash/pepsico_slide.swf Weygandt, J. J., Kimmel, P. D., Kieso, D. E. (2008). Financial accounting (6th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. The Coca Cola Company. (2009). Retrieved on: April 15, 2011 thecoca-colacompany.com/

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