In Unit VII Of This Course You Will Submit A Final Paper

In Unit Vii Of This Course You Will Submit A Final Paper On A Publicl

In Unit VII of this course, you will submit a final paper on a publicly traded company of your choice. You will complete this paper over several units in this course. For this assignment, you will be completing the first part of this project. It would be a good idea to read all of the milestones of this assignment in the units that follow to ensure that the company you choose has sufficient information to complete the project. For this first assignment, follow the instructions below.

Select the company you will be researching for your paper. Compose a brief paper that gives an overview of your company. Your summary should include the following: the type of firm, the banking structure of the firm in terms of current and past investments, what industry it is in, and any relevant history or background information. Make sure to also incorporate how the firm currently structures its capital by identifying banking relationships. Your paper must be at least two pages in length, and you must use at least two academic sources. Any information from a source must be cited and referenced in APA format, and your paper must be formatted in accordance to APA style guidelines.

Paper For Above instruction

The initial phase of this project requires a comprehensive overview of a publicly traded company, emphasizing its structure, industry background, investment history, and banking relationships. This foundational research will set the stage for subsequent analyses and deeper financial exploration in later units. In this paper, I will select Apple Inc., a global leader in technology and consumer electronics, to exemplify these key characteristics.

Apple Inc. is a multinational technology firm specializing in designing, manufacturing, and marketing consumer electronics, software, and digital services. Established in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, Apple has evolved into one of the most valuable companies worldwide, representing innovation in various sectors, such as personal computing, smartphones, tablets, and digital content (Khan & Lu, 2019). The company's core products include the iPhone, iPad, Mac computers, and software platforms such as iOS and macOS, alongside services like Apple Music and the App Store.

In terms of legal structure, Apple operates as a corporation incorporated in California and publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol AAPL. As a public company, Apple is subject to rigorous financial reporting protocols, including quarterly earnings disclosures and quarterly investor reports. These disclosures provide insight into its financial health, capital structure, and investment strategies.

Historically, Apple has maintained a robust record of investments in research and development, acquisitions, and capital expenditures. The company's investment strategy often involves strategic partnerships and acquisitions to enhance its technological capabilities and expand its ecosystem, exemplifying its focus on innovation and market growth (Linzmayer, 2014). Apple’s financial statements reveal a conservative approach to managing its cash reserves, which, as of recent years, exceeds $200 billion—a testament to its ability to generate substantial free cash flow (Apple Inc., 2023).

The banking structure of Apple revolves around its corporate relationships with major financial institutions. These banking relationships facilitate various functions, including cash management, short-term investments, and debt issuance when necessary. Apple maintains diversified banking relationships with several leading global banks, such as JPMorgan Chase and Citibank, to optimize its liquidity and financing options (Tucker & Ye, 2021). Its approach to capital structuring involves leveraging both equity and debt instruments to support strategic initiatives and shareholder value creation. Recent bond issuances, for example, have enabled Apple to finance share repurchases and dividend payments, illustrating its strategic use of debt within its capital structure (Apple Inc., 2023).

Understanding Apple’s company background, investment history, and banking relations provides a foundation for analyzing its financial strategies and market positioning in subsequent phases of the project. As a leader in the technology sector, Apple’s financial decisions and capital management serve as significant case studies for industry success and corporate finance practices.

References

  • Apple Inc. (2023). Form 10-K annual report. Retrieved from https://investor.apple.com
  • Khan, M., & Lu, L. (2019). Corporate governance and financial performance: A case study of Apple Inc. Journal of Business and Management, 21(3), 45-60.
  • Linzmayer, O. W. (2014). Apple confidential 2.0: The definitive history of the world's most colorful company. No Starch Press.
  • Tucker, J., & Ye, Y. (2021). Banking relationships and corporate liquidity management: Insights from Apple Inc. Financial Review, 56(4), 875-899.