Description

CASE STUDY INSTRUCTIONS — Cincinnati Financial (CINF)

The following articulates the overall basic procedure and presentation details for all three cases for the semester; each case will be laid out the same way.

PURPOSE
The purpose behind these studies is: (1) help you develop a strong awareness of the financial structure of depository financial institutions, insurance companies, and investment banks and investment companies, respectively; (2) further your financial analysis skills; and (3) broaden your understanding of the risks and strengths inherent in the important financial institutions in the United States.

PROCEDURE
It is your task to analyze the financial structure of each company assigned to you. Analysis consists of both narrative and Excel analysis. When submitted, it should contain, as a minimum, the following:

Contents:
? Identifying Data ? This is a cover page (see attached format)
? Narrative –
o A brief summary of your data analysis findings, bullet format permitted UNLESS YOU FEEL A MORE DETAILED NARRATIVE IS NECESSARY.
o A SUMMARY OF YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION?S SOUNDNESS. This section may employ comparative, general financial institution data and would be best NOT in bullet format.
? Excel Spreadsheet ? 2 years of data to be obtained from SEC/Edgar and/or the company website since these are the primary sources for financial data. In other words, don?t necessarily trust Yahoo! Finance or MSN Money.
o Calculate the Insurer?s:
? ROE and ROA
? Profit Margin (net income/total operating income), plus these detailed sub-ratios: interest income/total operating income, provision for loan loss/total operating income, non-interest expense/total operating income, and income taxes/total operating income (for banks)
? Asset and Liabilities Structure
? The following ratios (refer to PowerPoint slides ?INSURANCE COMPANIES? slide 15): Loss Ratio, Expense Ratio, Combined Ratio and Operating Ratio
You are free to use other ratios and analysis techniques (i.e., DuPont Analysis) but only if you feel they are important in making a point in either your analysis or conclusions. Don?t add them just to impress me; I won?t be impressed.
Compare the primary risk factors of insurers to commercial banks.
Maximum narrative length: 3 pages plus cover page and Excel file.
Use cover page template, below (don?t get creative here. I want the cover EXACTLY as shown ? with your info obviously):

NAME OF INSTITUTION (Symbol)
Headquarters Address

Sector (i.e. Property & Casualty Insurer, Life Insurer, Specialty Insurance, Reinsurance)
Market Capitalization
Total Assets

Profile (brief as reasonably possible) ? you may use Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, Morningstar or other source including the institution?s webpage.

CASE STUDY INSTRUCTIONS

The following articulates the overall basic procedure and presentation details for all three cases for the semester; each case will be laid out the same way.
PURPOSE
The purpose behind these studies is: (1) help you develop a strong awareness of the financial structure of depository financial institutions, insurance companies, and investment banks and investment companies, respectively; (2) further your financial analysis skills; and (3) broaden your understanding of the risks and strengths inherent in the important financial institutions in the United States.
PROCEDURE
There will be a total of three case studies, assigned separately, to wit – a randomly assigned bank, insurance company, and investment company. It is your task to analyze the financial structure of each company provided. Analysis consists of both narrative and Excel analysis. When submitted, it should contain, as a minimum, the following:
Contents:
? Identifying Data ? This is a cover page (see attached format)
? Narrative –
o A brief summary of your data analysis findings, bullet format permitted UNLESS YOU FEEL A MORE DETAILED NARRATIVE IS NECESSARY.
o A SUMMARY OF YOUR ANALYSIS OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTION?S SOUNDNESS. This section may employ comparative, general financial institution data and would be best NOT in bullet format.
? Excel Spreadsheet ? 2 years of data to be obtained from SEC/Edgar and/or FDIC.gov since these are the primary sources for financial data. In other words, don?t necessarily trust Yahoo! Finance or MSN Money. Or, go directly to the source: SEARCH THE BANK?S WEBSITE AND LOOK FOR ANNUAL REPORTS AND DOWNLOAD
o Calculate the Financial Institution?s:
? ROE and ROA
? Equity Multiplier
? Profit Margin (net income/total operating income), plus these detailed sub-ratios: interest income/total operating income, provision for loan loss/total operating income, non-interest expense/total operating income, and income taxes/total operating income (for banks)
? Asset Utilization (total operating income/total assets), plus these sub-ratios: interest income/total assets and non-interest income/total assets (for banks).
? Compare your bank to the typical financial structure articulated in the PowerPoint slides.

You are free to use other ratios and analysis techniques (i.e., DuPont Analysis) but only if you feel they are important in making a point in either your analysis or conclusions. Don?t add them just to impress me; I won?t be impressed.
I prefer an electronic file, but I will accept paper copies.
Maximum narrative length: 2 pages plus cover page and Excel file.
Use cover page template, below (don?t get creative here. I want the cover EXACTLY as shown ? with your info obviously ?

NAME OF INSTITUTION (Symbol)
Headquarters Address

Sector (i.e. Regional Bank, Midwest, Super-Regional Bank, or Money Center Bank)
Market Capitalization
Total Assets

Profile (brief as reasonably possible) ? you may use Yahoo! Finance, MSN Money, Morningstar or other source including the institution?s webpage.