Prompt: For this assignment, you will place yourself in the role of a controller as you review the Starbucks case study and apply your knowledge and understanding of accounting principles to resolve issues and formulate recommendations. You will present this milestone in the form of a report. You will receive feedback on each milestone, with the expectation that you will make any necessary revisions and then compile the milestones together for your final project submission.
For Milestone One you will analyze financial statements for Starbucks Corporation for fiscal 2010 through 2012 for financial analysis calculation and interpretation. You will then address linkages between financial results and operating strategy. As part of Critical Element I: Financial Indicators and Trend Analysis, you will begin by reviewing the financial statements and footnotes that are part of Starbucks’ annual report. Once you complete your review of the financial statements, you will focus on the gross profit ratio and return on assets and address the tasks in parts B and C of Critical Element I. Finally, you will perform a horizontal trend analysis to create a pro-forma financial statement. This assessment addresses the following course outcomes:
 Analyze financial accounting information from transactions through financial statement preparation for reporting results to internal and external users of information.  Interpret financial information in relation to a company’s mission and vision for aligning recommendations to attain strategic goals.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed in your milestone submission:
I. Financial Indicators and Trend Analysis

A. Analyze various ratio analyses and compare them to the financial statements and footnotes. Note any similarities or differences.

B. In reviewing the gross profit ratio, 2010 and 2011 were consistent versus a slight decrease in 2012. If management is looking to increase the gross profit ratio by 4%, what changes would need to be made in the components of gross profit (i.e., how much would sales increase if prices remained the same?)? Defend your response.

C. Analyze the return on assets (ROA) and discuss the advantages or disadvantages if Starbucks should expand assets by 5% but remain stable with sales.

D. Perform a horizontal trend analysis on the revenue components of Starbucks’s consolidated statements of earning and develop a pro forma financial statement for the next year, noting that coffee inventory will increase by 20% and same-store sales will remain flat. Ensure all information is entered accurately.
III. Interpret Financial Information Based on the case and researching Starbucks corporate philosophy:

a. Summarize how Starbucks meets its mission of “creating a reservoir of trust with their customers, partners, and communities that is deeper than at any time in their history.”
b. What considerations would need to be identified in the financial statements if Starbucks carries out its commitment to hiring veterans and military spouses? Why?

c. As controller, what are three challenges related to meeting this goal?

d. Starbucks is planning to open 1,500 new stores within the next 10 years. Evaluate the feasibility of opening stores in China, Brazil, and the Czech Republic. e. Rate each of the three locations with regard to prior sales history.
Guidelines for Submission: Your paper must be submitted as a 2- to 4-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and at least three sources cited in APA format.
Critical Element Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value Case Study 1: Financial Indicators and Trend Analysis: Compare Meets “Proficient” criteria and is well qualified with concrete examples (100%) Analyzes various ratio analyses and compares them to the financial statements and footnotes, supporting the comparison with similarities and differences (90%) Analyzes various ratio analyses and compares them to the financial statements and footnotes but does not support the comparison with similarities and differences (70%) Does not analyze various ratio analyses (0%) 10 Case Study 1: Financial Indicators and Trend Analysis: Gross Profit Ratio Meets “Proficient” criteria and defense is well supported and contextualized (100%) Identifies changes that would need to be made in the components of the gross profit to increase the gross profit ratio and defends response (90%) Identifies changes that would need to be made in the components of the gross profit to increase the gross profit ratio but does not defend response (70%) Does not identify changes that would need to be made in the components of gross profit to increase the gross profit ratio (0%) 5 Case Study 1: Financial Indicators and Trend Analysis: Expand Assets Meets “Proficient” criteria and shows keen insight into the relationship between expansion of assets and sales (100%) Analyzes the ROA and discusses the advantages or disadvantages of expanding assets by 5% while remaining stable with sales (90%) Analyzes the ROA and discusses the advantages or disadvantages of expanding assets by 5% while remaining stable with sales but discussion lacks depth or detail (70%) Does not analyze the ROA (0%) 15 Case Study 1: Financial Indicators and Trend Analysis: Horizontal Trend Analysis Performs a horizontal trend analysis and develops a pro forma financial statement for the next year (100%) Performs a horizontal trend analysis and develops a pro forma financial statement for the next year but contains inaccuracies (70%) Does not perform a horizontal trend analysis (0%) 15 Case Study 1: Interpret Financial Information: Mission Meets “Proficient” criteria and summary is exceptionally clear and contextualized (100%) Summarizes how Starbucks meets its mission (90%) Summarizes how Starbucks meets its mission but summary lacks depth or detail (70%) Does not summarize how Starbucks meets its mission (0%) 5 Case Study 1: Interpret Financial Meets “Proficient” criteria and justification is well supported with concrete examples (100%) Identifies considerations that would need to be addressed and justifies response (90%) Identifies considerations that would need to be addressed but does not justify response (70%) Does not identify considerations (0%) 10

Information: Considerations Case Study 1: Interpret Financial Information: Challenges
Meets “Proficient” criteria and shows keen insight into potential challenges a controller may face (100%)
Identifies three challenges related to meeting the goal (90%)
Identifies three challenges but they are not related to meeting the goal (70%)
Does not identify challenges (0%)
Case Study 1: Interpret Financial Information: Feasibility
Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites scholarly research to illustrate claims (100%)
Evaluates the feasibility of opening stores in China, Brazil, and the Czech Republic (90%)
Evaluates the feasibility of opening stores in China, Brazil, and the Czech Republic but evaluation is cursory or lacks detail (70%)
Does not evaluate the feasibility of opening stores in China, Brazil, and the Czech Republic (0%)
Case Study 1: Interpret Financial Information: Rate
Meets “Proficient” criteria and rankings are well supported and logical (100%)
Rates each of the three locations with regard to the prior sales history (90%)
Rates each of the three locations but does not take prior sales history into consideration (70%)
Does not rate the three locations (0%)
Articulation of Response
Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy-to-read format (100%)
Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization (90%)
Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas (70%)
Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas (0%)