Module FINN1081: Financial Valuation and Analysis

Department: Finance

FINN1081: Financial Valuation and Analysis

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To enable students to use financial statements to analyse firms' financial performance and risk to aid financial decision making.
• To introduce students to practical tools for undertaking valuations of companies and alternative investment securities.

Content

• Using financial statement analysis to support financial decision making in firms and informed investments.
• Forecasting and managing cash flows to manage financial liquidity and risk.
• The consequences of the limitations and biases of corporate reporting for financial decision making and informed investments.
• Company and industry analysis.
• The fundamentals of the valuation of public and private companies and alternative investment securities.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module students are expected to:
• Have a crucial understanding of financial statements, and a reasonable appreciation of the limitations of financial reporting and disclosure practices and procedures.
• Have a critical understanding of the process of valuing companies and alternative investment securities.

• By the end of the module students are expected to:
• Be able to analyse financial statements and conduct cash flow analysis and forecasting.
• Able to apply different models of valuation to find the value of companies and alternative investment securities.

• Interpersonal and Communication - by engaging in seminar discussions and developing a summative group video presentation. In addition, students will also practice their written communication skills via seminar activities and the On Campus examination.
• Group work skills - students will learn how to plan and manage group work using standard tools and processes (such as Gunn charts and minutes).
• Planning, Organisation and Time Management - by undertaking group work and preparing for the examination.
• Numeracy - e.g. by applying core mathematical and statistical skills to answer a range of seminar questions and online tests.
• Problem Solving and Analysis - by applying analytical skills to determine the factors that should affect valuation and how to incorporate these into the valuation process.
• Computer Literacy - by using different computer tools to conduct valuations and identify data. In addition students will learn how to design and record effective video presentations.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Learning takes place through preparation for and participation in lectures and seminars, independent study, as well as participation in the formative and summative assessment.
• The summative assessment is by means of a 7 minute group video presentation and a one-hour exam. The group video presentation aims to help students engage with the module content and develop their group and presentation skills. The one-hour examination provides students with the incentive to develop their mastery of the subject and to learn to be mentally agile and to engage in systematic problem solving.
• Formative assessment is by means of continuous assessment using online tests, which aims to ensure that students are consistently engaged with the module and receive regular feedback on their learning progress.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

Online tests.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.