Industry and company overview

Equity investment reports are prepared to evaluate the financial and non financial position of an organization so that a decision could be made about the investment and equity position of the company. The report takes the concern of industry evaluation, company evaluation, external environments, internal environments, accounting quality, competitor’s analysis, financial analysis etc (Grinblatt and Titman, 2016). It makes it easy for the investors of the company to make a better decision about the divestment into the company.

The report has been prepared to brief you about the Caffyn plc and its performance. For evaluating the investment opportunity in the company, financial and non financial factors of the company has been evaluated and it has been recognized that how the company is performing in context with the industry and the competitor of the company, Pendragon plc. The financial position of the company has been compared with last year and the competitor to evaluate the better opportunity of investment.

Caffyns plc:

Caffyns plc is a motor vehicle retailer company in England. The company has been awarded as one of the largest car retailing company is Southeast, England. The main operations of the company are to sell the new and used car and car parts. The main products of the company are mobility van, car, oil, parts, tyres, accessories etc.  (History,, 2018).The company also offers the repairing services to the cars. The company explains about a portfolio of 6 franchises which are Audi, SEAT, Vauxhall, Volvo, Volkswagen and Skoda. The company has been founded in 1865. Headquarter of the company is in Eastbourne, UK. The main competitor of the company is Pendragon plc which is also operating its business in England (Bloomberg, 2018).

The financial performance and non financial performance of the company indicates about numerous changes in recent years. The performance of the company has been enhanced and the company has also managed the non financial factors to enhance the performance of the company (Reuters, 2018). The financial and non financial performance of Caffyns plc is below.

Strategic and operating analysis:

Strategic and operating policy of an organization express about the current policies and rules which are followed by the comapny to achieve the goal and objective of the company (Gitman and Zutter, 2012). The strategies of the company, its competitors and the industry are as follows:

Strategic analysis of industry and company:

Strategic analysis of the company has been evaluated on the basis of porter’s 5 forces model. This model takes the concern of industry as whole and explains that what changes are taking place into the industry and how it is affecting the performance of the company:

Strategic and operating analysis

Porter’s 5 forces model:

It explains that the car sell retailing industry is performing well in the market and due to it; the performance of Caffyn plc is also good.

Activities, business model and markets:

Activities, markets and business model of an organization evaluates about the non financial performance and position of the company. The activities, market structure and business model of the company has been evaluated to recognize the performance of the company and the competitors position of the company. The activities of the company have been studied firstly and it has been recognized that the main operations of the company are to sell the new and used car and car parts. The main products of the company are mobility van, car, oil, parts, tyres, accessories etc. The company also offers the repairing services to the cars (Annual Report, 2017). The company explains about a portfolio of 6 franchises which are Audi, SEAT, Vauxhall, Volvo, Volkswagen and Skoda.

Further, the markets of the company have been evaluated and it has been recognized that the company is focusing on the new car market as well as old car market. It helps the company to grab both the market. According to the annual report (2017), it has been found that the revenue from both segments of the company is quite better and it briefs about the better position of the company (FT, 2018).

Lastly, the business model of the company has been studied and it has been recognized that the company operates its business with an effective process. It basically works as a mediator among the customers and the manufacturing companies. The business model of the comapny briefs about a portfolio of 6 franchises which are Audi, SEAT, Vauxhall, Volvo, Volkswagen and Skoda. Caffyns plc sells the cars of these brands to the customers of UK (Galí, 2015).

Objectives and policies:

Objectives and policies of an organization brief about the man target which has been set by the management of the company and the entire organizations works as a team to reach and meet the target. The main objectives of Caffyns plc are to analyze the new market for the company and grab that market. Currently, the company is focusing on diversifying so that the new market could be grabbed and the turnover of the company could be enhanced. The company has prepared various new policies of human resources and financial management to meet the objectives (annual report, 2017).

Key performance indicators

The objectives of the company have been prepared in such a manner that society could not be harmed as well as the position and the performance of the company is enhanced. The company wants to be leader in the market but various competitors are available in the market to defeat the company (Simply Wall, 2018).

KPIs:

Key performance indicators of the company have been studied further to recognize the changes into the performance of the company in context with the last year and the competitor of the company. The key performance indicators of the company such as net profit, Earnings per share, gearing ratio of the company etc explains that the performance of the company has been better from the last year (Annaul Report, 2017). On the other hand, the Pendragon plc’s key performance indicators explains that the performance of the company has been lowered in financial year 2017 in context with the financial year 2016. It explains that the Caffyns plc is a good option for the purpose of investment.

SWOT analysis:

SWOT analysis of the company has been done in addition to recognize the internal strength and weakness of the company as well as the external opportunities and threats of the company. The SWOT analysis study of the comapny is as follows:

Strategic report in annual report:

The annual report of the comapny briefs that the main strategy of the company is to focus on the premium price and premium volume market from where huge sales could be made by the company as greater resilience is there is the market. The annual report (2017) of the company briefs that generally comapny operates its business through its freehold property so that the flexibility could be maintained and the better long term returns could be got. The after sales strategy of the company is also strong as it has been found that the turnover of the company has been enhanced by 8.8% due to after sales service of the company (Yahoo Finance, 2018).

Company has also prepared some strategies and policies for the UK government regulations and the economy of the country. The company monitors the economical indicators time to time and make the new strategy on the basis of that. The company has also diversified its market to mitigate the risk level and enhance the performance of the company (Weston and Brigham, 2015). The company has described briefly about the potential risks , their measurements, impacts and the key control strategies of these issues.

SWOT analysis

Critical evaluation:

On the basis of the above study and the analysis on Caffyns plc, it has been recognized that the company is performing very well in the market. The industry strategic analysis briefs that the position of the company is good. Further, other factors also brief that the current position of the company is quite better and in near future, the position of the company would be much better. It evaluates that the company is a good option for the purpose of investment.

Accounting quality analysis:

Accounting quality is an extent which evaluates the accounting standards, accounting reports and accounting position of the company and it briefs that whether the comapny is disclosing all the activities and figures to the company or not. Auditors of an organization are required to evaluate the accounting reports of the company so that the accounting qualities could be measures and evaluated.

Accounting quality:

Accounting quality of Caffyns plc has been evaluated on the basis of annual report (2017). On the basis of annual report of the company, it has been found that the company has measured and recorded all the financial figures such as depreciation, tax amount, goodwill amount, provisions etc on the basis of accounting standards and the international accounting regulations which explains that the accounting quality of the company is quite better and the company is following all the main accounting connects to run the business properly such as going concern concept (Weaver, Weston and Weaver, 2001).

Company disclosure policies and estimates:

Annual report (2017) of Caffyns plc describes that the company is disclosing all the relevant and main figures of accounting in a proper way. The final accounts of the company have been prepared and notes have also been attached with them which contain all the relevant information. The annual report of Caffyns plc has been compared with Pendragon plc’ annual report (2017) and it has been recognized that the performance and the disclosing policies of both the reports are same which explains that Caffyns plc estimates, records and disclose all the figures on the basis of accounting standards.

Auditors focus:

Auditor report has also been studied further to evaluate that whether the company is involved in any fraudulent activities or any figure or transaction has been disclosed by the company. On the basis of the evaluation, it has been recognized that the company’s accounting quality is quite good and no issues are involved in the company.

Strategic report in annual report

Red Flags:

There are no red flags in the accounting policies and standards of the company. It briefs that the financial position of the company is is quite good and no issues are involved in the company. The annual report of Caffyns plc has been compared with Pendragon plc’ annual report (2017) and it has been recognized that the performance and the disclosing policies of both the reports are same.

Financial analysis study has been done further to analyze the performance of the company in context with the last year performance and the competitors of the company. the financial analysis study of the company is as follows:

Trend analysis:

Trend analysis stands for changes into the financial figures if income statement and balance sheet on the basis of sales revenue, total assets and total stockholder’s equity and liabilities. The trend analysis of the company briefs that the gross profit position of the company has been lowered from last year and the same has been impacted on the net income of the company (Appendix). The evaluation of trend analysis on Pendragon plc briefs that the gross profit and income of Competitor Company has also been lowered. These changes have been occurred into the company due to some industrial issues and it explains that the performance of the company is quite good (Du and Girma, 2009).

The balance sheet of the company has also been studied and it has been recognized that the capital structure has been changed by the company to maintain the optimal capitals structure as well as the liquidity position has also been maintained by the comapny through managing the level of current assets (Morningstar, 2018). The evaluation brief that the company is maintain a good competitive position.

Ratio analysis:

Ratio analysis study has been done to evaluate the profitability, liquidity, asset management etc position of the company. firstly, the profitability ratio of the company has been evaluated and it has been recognized that the profitability generation capability of the company has been lower on the other hand, competitors position also brief about decrement.

Further, the liquidity position briefs that reduction in the company as well as competitor comapny and briefs that the current position of the company is quite better (Appendix). Company is utilizing the resources at their fullest. Asset management ratios of the company briefs that the cash conversion cycle of the company is higher than competitive company and thus the company should reduce the level.

Lastly, capital structure ratio of the company explains that the company should maintain the optimal capital structure to manage the risk and cost of the company.

Horizontal analysis:

Horizontal analysis stands for changes into the financial figures of income statement and balance sheet on the basis of last year data. The horizontal analysis of the company briefs that the sales position and gross profit position of the company has been lowered from last year though, the net income of the company has been better (Appendix). The evaluation of horizontal analysis on Pendragon plc briefs that the income of Competitor Company has also been enhanced but net income has been lowered. These changes explain about the better performance of the company.

The balance sheet of the company has also been studied and it has been recognized that the company has made few changes into its financial performance to make the position more competitive. The evaluation brief that the company is maintain a good competitive position.

Critical evaluation:

It evaluates that the financial performance of the company is quite better. Few changes are required to be done in the company though; it hardly matters to the inventors. The investing position of the company is quite better.

Investor analysis:

Investor’s analysis has been done further to analyze the performance of the company.

Dividend position:

Dividend position of the company explains that the dividend amount has been enhanced by the company by 3.4% which explains that the divided payout ratio of the company is quite better (Yahoo Finance, 2018).

Market price:

The market stock price of the company explains about the increment into the stock price of the company. the current stock price of the company is GBP 429 which is quite better in context of the competitors of the company (Business Insider, 2018).

Company news and Analysts view:

the news and the analysts report brief that the company is a good opportunity for the purpose of investment. The market performance of the company is quite better as well as the dividend payout ratio of the company is also good (Morningstar, 2018).

Critical evaluation:

It evaluates that the investment position of the company is quite better. The investing position of the company is quite better in context with the competitors. It briefs that the investors should invest more in the company for better returns.

Recommendation and conclusion:

The above study recommends the investors to hold the stock for some time for better returns. Though, the current position of the company is also string but the evaluation study brief that in future the position of the company would be enhanced more. The non financial performance of the company briefs the position of the company is quite strong in the market as well as the strategies and future policies of the company are also strong.

On the other hand, financial figures of the comapny briefs that the investment position and financial position of the company has been better and it is also better from the competitors. The investment report and the analyst report also briefs that the company is a good option for the purpose of investment and thus the investor should hold the stock.

Hammond electronics is manufacturing computer peripheral devices and that wants to invest into a new product “Super Zip”. This report has been prepared to evaluate that whether the project is beneficial for the company or not. For evaluating the performance of the project discounted cash flow, internal rate of return and payback period of the project has been evaluated and on the basis of that a conclusion has been made about the investment. Discounted cash flow, internal rate of return and payback period are some techniques of capital budgeting which evaluates the project and analyze that whether the project would be beneficial for the company or not. It analyzes the project on various bases such as total time period, cash flow etc.

Analysis:

In the given case, initial cost of the project is £700,000 and total revenue of the project is £ 4,80,000 per year for 5 years. After 5 years, the machinery would be of no use and it would be sold by the company in £ 70,000. The analysis and the calculations on the given case briefs that the total cash flow of the company would be -£ 7,95,000 in initial year and £ 1,82,000, £1,77,000, £1,77,000., £1,77,000 and £3,42,000 in next 5 years respectively (Kaplan and Atkinson, 2015). On the basis of it, discounted cash flow has been calculated and it has been found that the total discounted cash outflow of the company would be £7,95,000 and total discounted inflow of the company would be £7,77,967 in next 5 years which explains that the inflow of the project is quite lower than the outflow of the company. Where the cash outflow is higher than the cash inflow then the project should not be accepted by the company. It evaluates that the discounted cash flow of the company would be -£ 17,033.27. It explains that the project should not be accepted by the company.

(Davies and Crawford, 2011)

Though, the internal rate of return has been calculated further to analyze the project and it has been found that the internal rate of return of the project is 9.23% whereas the cost of capital of the company is 10% and the expected internal rate of return of the company is 16% which makes it quite clear that the project is not acceptable (Atrill and McLaney, 2006). If the company invests into the project than the company would not even be able to meet the cost amount.

(Kaplan and Atkinson, 2015)

Lastly, the payback period of the project has been calculated and it has been recognized that the total invested amount would be got back by the company in 4.46 years in case of non discounted value whereas the company is expecting to get back the amount in 4 years. It makes it clear to the management of the company that if the company would invest into the project than huge losses would be faced by the company.

(Bromwich and Bhimani, 2005)

Recommendation and conclusion:

Thus, it is suggested to the management of the company to not to invest into the project and must evaluate the other project where the discounted cash flows are positive, IRR is higher than 16% and the payback period is 4 years or lesser than that. To conclude, the project is not a good option for the company.

References:

Annual report. 2017. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.caffynsplc.co.uk/pdfs/annual_report_2017.pdf (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Annual Report. 2017. Penadragon plc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.pendragonplc.com/documents/2017/pendragon-plc-annual-report-2017.pdf (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Atrill, P. and McLaney, E.J., 2006. Accounting and Finance for Non-specialists. Pearson Education.

Bloomberg. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=876234 (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Borio, C., 2014. The financial cycle and macroeconomics: What have we learnt?. Journal of Banking & Finance, 45, pp.182-198.

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Business Insider. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://markets.businessinsider.com/analyst/caffyns_2 (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Davies, T. and Crawford, I., 2011. Business accounting and finance. Pearson.

Du, J. and Girma, S., 2009. Source of finance, growth and firm size: evidence from China (No. 2009.03). Research paper/UNU-WIDER.

2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://markets.ft.com/data/equities/tearsheet/summary?s=CFYN:LSE(Accessed as on 15^thApril 2018).

Galí, J., 2015. Monetary policy, inflation, and the business cycle: an introduction to the new Keynesian framework and its applications. Princeton University Press.

Gambacorta, L. and Signoretti, F.M., 2014. Should monetary policy lean against the wind?: An analysis based on a DSGE model with banking. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 43, pp.146-174.

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History. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.caffyns.co.uk/about-us/caffyns-history/ (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Kaplan, R.S. and Atkinson, A.A., 2015. Advanced management accounting. PHI Learning.

Morningstar. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://financials.morningstar.com/cash-flow/cf.html?t=CFYN&region=gbr&culture=en-US (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Morningstar. 2018. Penadragon plc. [Online]. Available at: https://financials.morningstar.com/ratios/r.html?t=PDGNF(Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Reuters. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview/CFYN.L (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Reuters. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/analyst-research/CFYN.L (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

Simply wall. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://simplywall.st/stocks/gb/retail/lse-cfyn/caffyns-shares/news/caffyns-plc-loncfyn-time-for-a-financial-health-check/ (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).

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Weston, J.F. and Brigham, E.F., 2015. Managerial finance. Hinsdale, IL: Dryden Press.

Yahoo Finance. 2018. Caffyns plc. [Online]. Available at: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/79GL.L/analysis?p=79GL.L (Accessed as on 15^th April 2018).