Skip to content

HI5002 Finance for business Assignment Help

Abstract 

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG) is an iron ore company situated mainly in Australia. It was founded in the year 2003. The company comes under the industry of Metals and Mining. Its headquarters is placed in Perth, Western Australia. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG) deals in Iron ore, Steel, Gold, Copper and Lithium. It is one of the largest iron ore producers. Mainly fourth largest producer of iron ore in wide world. Elizabeth Gaines works as a (CEO) in the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd and Andrew Forrest being a (Chairman) combines to become the major shareholder in the company. The Fortescue Metals Group Ltd has many subsidiaries work under it. The mine company holds 87000 km2 area. The location where it is situated is Christmas Creek Mine, Pilbara region, West Australia. The company is listed company on the ASX Australia stock exchange with all well known companies. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG) has grown fastest heavy haul railways, advanced infrastructure and Fortescue company has its own iron ore carriers as well. Fortescue Metals Group Ltd is building a new succes story in the field of mining. Safety, values and empowerment of people are the basic goals, this Australian company holds. 

I. Introduction : 

The company selected is the fourth largest iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG). The main purpose of my assignment is to research thoroughly through the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. This purpose is carried so that we can learn about the success policies, financial performance and income statements of the above mentioned company. In this assignment, we will examine the main issues, underlying theories, performance measures used and the firm’s financial performance. We will get to know the capital structure, price earning ratios, non current assets and income statement. 

The  analyse of  Fortescue Metals Group Ltd trends in the last three years. The company’s performance analysis and success report. The company’s philosophies and methodologies about future.

The companies financial ratios show many ups and downs from the last two to three years.The annual reports has been taken from the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG) official website https://www.fmgl.com.au/. The annual reports will show the progressive approach company took and the successful strategies taken. The assignment has been structured strictly as per the norms and guidelines suggested and the assigned tasks. 

This assignment consists the real figures as per the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd website. The referred materials are latest and updated in the year 2019. The assignment consists of many useful information about the success, ups and downs, weaknesses and strengths. Here we will find out the details about the position and liquidity of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. The share prices are checked on www.asx.com.au.

Financial analysis of fortescue metals group ltd. :

II. Financial Analysis of Selected Company  

2.1 The Fortescue Metals Group Ltd company deals in mine industry mainly iron ore –

The Fortescue Metals Group Ltd company deals in Steel, Gold, Copper and Lithium but mainly iron ore. It offers the iron ore to world wide. The importance of the mining in maintaining the comparative advantages of the company can be listed below –

  • Trained workers
  • Flexible arrangements of work
  • Staff incentives plan
  • 16 – weeks paid parental leave etc
  • Huge Mining sites
  • Full check on the safety measures for any miss happenings occur at the time of work.
  • Highly automated plants and machinery

All the other personal as well as professional benefits the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd provide to their staff and workers (Babalola & Abiola, 2013). 

2.2 Calculation and analysis of performance of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd by liquidity ratios –

According to the data collected from THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, the financial data obtained from current financial statements of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd for the past 3 years we will calculate the liquidity ratios know about the capital structure (Fortescue metals group ltd., 2019).

Assets

S.No,   Particulars 2016—17   2017-18   2018-19  
1 Current              
    Current Assets $    222,331.00  2.172304295 $    470,047.00  2.930668562 626006 3.047904221
    Current Liabilities $    102,348.00  $    160,389.00  205389  
2 Quick              
    Cash + Accts. Rec. $    193,894.00  1.894458123 $    405,946.00  2.531008984 517553 2.519867179
    Current Liabilities $    102,348.00  $    160,389.00  205389  
3 Debt-to-Worth              
    Total Liabilities $    102,448.00  0.424246942 $    166,869.00  0.300281262 205616 0.260982365
    Net Worth $    241,482.00  $    555,709.00  787854  
                 
INCOME STATEMENT RATIOS: Profitability (Earning Power)                
4 Gross Margin              
    Gross Profit $    151,006.00  0.274932772 $    464,349.00  0.503439027 713752 0.53251722
    Sales $    549,247.00  $    922,354.00  1340336  
5 Net Margin              
    Net Profit Before Tax $      52,299.00  0.095219455 $    415,711.00  0.450706562 283232 0.211314178
    Sales $    549,247.00  $    922,354.00  1340336  
                 
ASSET MANAGEMENT RATIOS: Overall Efficiency Ratios                
6 Sales-to-Assets              
    Sales $    549,247.00  1.596973221 $    922,354.00  1.276476726 1340336 1.349145923
    Total Assets $    343,930.00  $    722,578.00  993470  
7 Return on Assets              
    Net Profit Before Tax $      52,299.00  0.15206292 $    415,711.00  0.575316436 283232 0.285093662
    Total Assets $    343,930.00  $    722,578.00  993470  
8 Return on Investment              
    Net Profit Before Tax $      52,299.00  0.15206292 $    415,711.00  0.575316436 283232 0.285093662
    Net Worth $    343,930.00  $    722,578.00  993470  
                 
ASSET MANAGEMENT RATIOS: Working Capital Cycle Ratios                
9 Inventory Turnover              
    Cost of Goods Sold $ (285,729.00) -10.04778985 $ (458,005.00) -7.145052339 -590584 -5.4455294
    Inventory $      28,437.00  $      64,101.00  108453  
10 Inventory Turn-Days              
    360                     360  0.012659563                     360  0.005616137 360 0.00331941
    Inventory Turnover $      28,437.00  $      64,101.00  108453  
11 Accounts Receivable Turnover              
    Sales $    549,247.00  7.536940473 $    922,354.00  14.08367562 1340336 25.41017669
    Accounts Receivable $      72,874.00  $      65,491.00  52748  

Commnets

  • the current ratio has increased . This means the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd company is able to meet the short term liabilities successfully over the time. There is an increasing trend in the ratios.
  • According to the above calculation, it is clear that with the increase in quick ratio Fortescue company can easily pay back its current liabilities. In 2018 the quick ratio was less than 1, this means company was not able to pay back the current liability.
  • There is a certain growth in the cash ratio from the year 2017 to year 2019. But these ratios are less than 1. A ratio above 1 means that, the company can easily pay off its current liabilities with the cash and cash equivalent. Here the company have cash ratio less than 1 in all the years.
  • According to the above scenario, the Debt Equity Ratio is changing but very minutely. The low Debt Equity Ratio indicates less of borrowed funds and more of owner funds in the company. So here it is a good sign. There is a decreasing trend in the Debt Equity Ratio in passing years (Blum & Dacorogna, 2014).
  • As we can see there is a slight decline in the Debt to Total Asset Ratio in all the three years. This can be interpreted as the percentage of assets is funded through borrowing funds as compared with the percentage of principal resources that are funded by investors.
  • As we can see from the above proprietary ratios in percentage. here. When proprietary ratios is high that means the company is financially strong. Here it seems the company is dependent on debts in 2017 and 2019. The trend is not regular (Fortescue metals group ltd., 2019).
  • Above are the position of liquidity, solvency and trends analysis according to the important accounting ratios of Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.

2.3 Non-current Asset Analysis –

Non Current Assets are Fixed Assets such as Property, Plant, Equipment, Land & Building, Long-term Investment in Bonds and Stocks, Goodwill, Patents, Trademark etc.

Carrying Amount beg. of the year 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
Plant and equipment 11456 11156 10995
Land and buildings 849 796 744
Exploration and evaluation 772 813 857
Assets under development 227 291 301
Development 3563 3437 3292
Depreciation
Plant and equipment 4521 5478 6464
Land and buildings 257 316 412
Exploration and evaluation 0 0 0
Assets under development 0 0 0
Development 1052 1259 1448
Carrying Amount end of the year
Plant and equipment 11156 10995 10690
Land and buildings 796 744 650
Exploration and evaluation 813 857 539
Assets under development 291 301 889
Development 3437 3292 3303

Here, in the year 2019 the amount of non-current assets has increased as compared to the last two years that is 2018 and 2017. This increase means the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd company can turn their assets in to cash within 1 year as per the date mentioned in companies balance sheet (Fortescue metals group ltd., 2019).

2.4 The scenario analysis as per the information given –

Averag Price $25 
Units to be sold 450000
Life 4 years
Equipmnet Cost $2,500,000 
Residual Value $500,000 
Working Cpaital $800,000 
Variable Cost $15   
NPV Current Case
Years 0 1 2 3 4
Equipmet Cost 2500000        
Sales   11250000 11250000 11250000 11250000
Working Capital   $800,000  800000 800000 800000
Variable Cost   6750000 6750000 6750000 6750000
Residaul Value         $500,000 
Cash Fixed Cost   450000 450000 450000 $450,000 
Profit Before Tax   $3,250,000  $3,250,000  $3,250,000  $3,250,000 
Tax   975000 975000 975000 975000
Profit after Tax   $2,275,000  $2,275,000  $2,275,000  $2,275,000 
Discounted Values 1 0.89285714 0.79719 0.71178 0.63552
Discounted Cash Flow 2500000 $2,031,250  $1,813,616  $1,619,300  $1,445,804 
Outflow 2500000
Inflow 6909969.76
Net Present Value 4409969.76
Averag Price $20 
Units to be sold 360000
Life 4 years
Equipmnet Cost $2,500,000 
Residual Value $500,000 
Working Cpaital $800,000 
Variable Cost $18   
NPV Worst Case
Years 0 1 2 3 4
Equipmet Cost 2500000        
Sales   7200000 7200000 7200000 7200000
Working Capital   $800,000  800000 800000 800000
Variable Cost   6480000 6480000 6480000 6480000
Residaul Value         $500,000 
Cash Fixed Cost   550000 550000 550000 $550,000 
Profit Before Tax   ($630,000) ($630,000) ($630,000) ($630,000)
Tax   -189000 -189000 -189000 -189000
Profit after Tax   ($441,000) ($441,000) ($441,000) ($441,000)
Discounted Values 1 0.892857143 0.79719 0.71178 0.63552
Discounted Cash Flow 2500000 ($393,750) ($351,563) ($313,895) ($280,263)
Outflow 2500000
Inflow -1339471.06
Net Present Value -3839471.06
NPV Best Case
Years 0 1 2 3 4
Equipmet Cost 2500000        
Sales   16200000 16200000 16200000 16200000
Working Capital   $800,000  800000 800000 800000
Variable Cost   6480000 6480000 6480000 6480000
Residaul Value         $500,000 
Cash Fixed Cost   350000 350000 350000 $350,000 
Profit Before Tax   $8,570,000  $8,570,000  $8,570,000  $8,570,000 
Tax   2571000 2571000 2571000 2571000
Profit after Tax   $5,999,000  $5,999,000  $5,999,000  $5,999,000 
Discounted Values 1 0.892857143 0.79719 0.71178 0.63552
Discounted Cash Flow 2500000 $5,356,250  $4,782,366  $4,269,970  $3,812,473 
Outflow 2500000
Inflow 18221058.73
Net Present Value 15721058.73

Interpretation on the sensitivity

Selling price : 9055951 = .19

  450000*35*3.037

Variable Price = 9055951 = .44

  450000*15*3.037

Fixed Cost = 9055951 = 6.63

  450000*3.037

2.5 The latest share or bond issuance by the fortescue metals group ltd 

The Fortescue Metals Group has issued coupon bonds recently. FMG Resources AUG 2006 is the issuer. The company has issued bonds in the form of Registered documentary bonds. It was an open subscription. It is an international bonds (Dorina, et. al., 2012).

The Company has been listing in Australia stock exchange as Fortescue FMG.

2.6 Calculation of the pe ratios and share price movement of the fortescue metals group ltd –

Price earning ratio has been declined to 46% last year in 2018. Up to the year 2019, the price earning ratio has gone up to 40%. The Operating income of the company is A$2.477 Billion in the year 2018 and the Net income results in A$1.134 billion in the year 2018 (Fortescue metals group ltd., 2019).

Price Earning Ratios = Market price / Earning per share
                          2019 2018 2017
Net income              4456 1,134 2,775
Earning pae share        1.44 0.36 0.89

The present PE ratio of Fortescue Metals Group ltd is 22.5%. If the pe ratio is high, the company is a growth firm and vice versa (Babalola & Abiola, 2013).

The last recorded price of share of FMG was marked at 8.950. The share price movement is watched out as 0.185 2.11% .

Recommendation Letter – 

As company took a comprehensive examination and analysed the firm’s financial performance from the updated financial statements of the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Being an investment analyst, I would recommend the investor to invest in Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. This company is performing well in the year 2019 and can write many success stories in the upcoming years. The share price fluctuations are not high or low. The investors can gain good returns from Fortescue Metals Group Ltd in near future.

Conclusion 

The assignment is done with the fortescue metals group ltd .The company profit statement has been studied to find out the ratios of the company. This is finding that the company had making profits or not. The research will be useful to the shareholders to find whether to invest in the company or not. Thaw Company had made a successful issue of shares whose report had been summarised above. The ratios are done to better understanding of the report. All the current ration and the liquidity ratio are check to find the company had made profits in current year or not. The written down method of depreciation had been followed by the company. The life of the assets and the scarp value is as per the market value and as per the recommendation of law. The calculation of NPV is done to find pout whiter the project should be adopted or not. The company had made all the conclusion of worst and nest case and the sensitivity is done to find out which variable are more sensitive than others. 

References

Babalola, Y. A., & Abiola, F. R. (2013). Financial ratio analysis of firms: A tool for decision making. International journal of management sciences1(4), 132-137.

Blum, P., & Dacorogna, M. (2014). DFADynamic Financial Analysis. Wiley StatsRef: Statistics Reference Online.

Christensen, T., Cottrell, D., & Baker, R. (2013). Advanced financial accounting. McGraw-Hill.

Dorina, P., Victoria, B., & Diana, B. (2012). Aspects of company performance analysis based on relevant financial information and nonfinancial information. The Annals of the University of Oradea, 956.

Fortescue metals group ltd. (2019). About us. [Online] Fortescue metals group ltd. Available at https://www.fmgl.com.au/docs/default-source/annual-reporting-suite/fy19-annual-report.pdf. [Accessed on 10.09.2019]

Fortescue metals group ltd. (2019). About us. [Online] Fortescue metals group ltd. Available at https://www.fmgl.com.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/fy2017-annual-report.pdf [Accessed on 10.09.2019]

Fortescue metals group ltd. (2019). About us. [Online] Fortescue metals group ltd. Available at https://www.fmgl.com.au/investors/asx-announcements# [Accessed on 10.09.2019]