1. Go on the Internet and do some research on Apple, Inc., and its industry. Use one
or more popular websites like http://finance.yahoo.com or
http://www.google.com/finance. Write a paragraph (about 100 words) that describes
the industry, some current developments, and a projection for future growth.
2. Read Part I, Item 1 (Business) of Apple, Inc.’s annual report. What do you learn
here and why is it important?
3. Name at least one of Apple, Inc.’s competitors. Why is this information important in
evaluating Apple, Inc.’s financial performance?
4. Suppose you own stock in Apple, Inc. If you could pick one item on the company’s
Consolidated Statements of Operations to increase year after year, what would it be?
Why is this item so important? Did this item increase or decrease during fiscal 2014?
Is this good news or bad news for the company?
5. What was Apple, Inc.’s largest expense in 2012 – 2014? In your own words, explain
the meaning of this item. Give specific examples of items that make up this expense.
The chapter gives another title for this expense. What is it?
6. Use the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Apple, Inc., in Appendix A to answer
these questions: At the end of fiscal 2014, how much in total resources did Apple,
Inc., have to work with? How much did the company owe? How much of its assets did
the company’s stockholders actually own? Use these amounts to write Apple, Inc.’s
accounting equation at September 27, 2014.
7. How much cash and cash equivalents did Apple, Inc., have at September 28,
2013? How much cash and cash equivalents did Apple have September 27, 2014?
2.