FIN 301 SYLLABUS Corporate Finance Spring 2012 Professor: Hunter M. Holzhauer, Ph.D. Office Number: REDC 291 Office Phone: (814) 898-6326 E-mail: hmh14@psu.edu Office Hours: MTW 3:15-4:30pm (and by appointment) Class Room: BURKE 102 Class Time for Section 002: MWF 9:05-9:55am Class Time for Section 004: MWF 10:10-11:00am Course Prerequisites: ACCTG 211, ECON 002 or 004, MGMT 301, SCM/STAT 200 (Note: Students should also have fifth-semester standing) Course Objectives: The course is designed to introduce you to the world of finance, especially the fundamental concepts and problem-solving techniques used in financial decision-making within a corporate setting. These concepts include topics such as financial statement analysis, time value of money, stock and bond valuation, investment criteria, capital budgeting, risk vs. return, short-term and long-term financing and project evaluation. These concepts are essential in corporate finance, but they are also very applicable in regards to personal financial planning. We will focus on these concepts and applying them in practice. This course is designed for the general business student. Required Text/Materials: Essentials of Corporate Finance, 7th edition, with McGraw-Hill Connect assignment and assessment solution, Ross, Westerfield and Jordan, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2011. Financial Calculator Texas Instruments BA-II Plus (Note: This is the ONLY calculator that will be allowed on exams.) McGraw-Hill Connect site for taking all quizzes and exams to prepare for actual tests. i. Login to: http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/holzhauer_spring_2012 ii. Select Register Now in the middle of the page. iii. Enter your student e-mail. iv. Input your Registration Code that came with your textbook. (Note: If you did NOT purchase a code with your textbook, then select Buy Online on the right and follow the prompts. DO NOT leave the payment area without a Registration Code. You should call tech support if in doubt.) v. Be sure to bookmark this website because this is the webpage you will use to complete weekly quiz assignments. If you experience any difficulties with this process, call McGraw-Hill tech support at 1-800-311-5094 on Monday- Friday 7am-11pm or Sunday 6pm-11pm. They are closed on Saturdays.
Required Text/Materials: (continued) PowerPoint Slides - will be made available on Angel within 24 hours of the next class to give students time to print out slides prior to class. If the slides are not posted within 24 hours of the next class, the slides will be provided in class as a handout. Grading Policy: 1. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICY The University Faculty Senate Policies for Students: Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception and is an educational objective of this institution. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. http://www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/ Minor infractions of the academic integrity policy will result in a grade of F on the assignment or test in question. Major infractions will result in an academic sanction of F for the course. In the case of a major infraction, the University Hearing Board may also impose disciplinary sanctions such as warnings, probation, suspension, dismissal, expulsion, or loss of privilege. http://www.pserie.psu.edu/faculty/academics/integrity.htm 2. POINT DISTRIBUTION Attendance & Participation 105 = 10.5% (lose five points for each absence) Top 10 of 12 Quizzes (25 points each) 250 = 25% (or 2.5% each with 2 drop grades) Top 3 of 4 for Exams I-IV (150 points each) 450 = 45% (or 15% each with 1 drop grade) Final Exam 200 = 20% Total Points 1000 (+ 5 bonus points for perfect attendance) 3. GRADES Letter Grade Percentage Points A 93.0% 930-1000 A- 90.0% 900-929 B+ 87.0% 870-899 B 83.0% 830-869 B- 80.0% 800-829 C+ 77.0% 770-799 C 70.0% 700-769 D 60.0% 600-699 F <60.0% 0-599 4. EXAM PROCEDURES The exams will test your knowledge of the learning objectives related to text and lecture material. There will be four regular exams plus one comprehensive final exam. In the event that you miss one of the first four regular exams with either an excused or unexcused absence, that exam will be considered your drop grade for the first four exams. MAKE-UP EXAMS will not be given.
5. QUIZ PROCEDURES Like the exams, the quizzes will test your knowledge of the learning objectives related to text and lecture material. There will be 12 online quizzes. All online quizzes are algorithmic, which means that the questions will always be the same, but the numbers will change every time you or anyone else attempts to take them. All quizzes must be completed within the allowed time period as displayed in McGraw-Hill Connect. In the event that you miss one (two) of the 12 quizzes with either an excused or unexcused absence, that quiz (those quizzes) will be considered your drop grade(s) for the 12 quizzes. MAKE-UP QUIZZES will not be given. 5. ATTENDANCE & PREPARATION There are over 40 classes for this course. Class attendance will be taken. I will deduct five points for each unexcused class you miss. You have one free absence. However, I will give a five point bonus for perfect attendance. For example, if you miss only one class you will still receive 100 points for your Attendance & Participation grade, but you will not be eligible for the five point perfect attendance bonus. All legitimate reasons and university-approved curricular and extra-curricular activities (such as field trips, debate trips, choir trips, athletic contests, job interviews, job fairs, etc.) will be excused as long as the student provides written documentation (or obtains permission via e-mail ahead of time). I encourage you to come to each class prepared to participate in the discussion and learn something about corporate finance. I suggest the following study strategy to prepare for each class meeting: Concentrate on the PowerPoint slides and learning objectives for each chapter. Use McGraw-Hill Connect to practice problem-solving skills. Speed read all chapter material paying attention to key terms and concepts. Carefully read any assigned material. Write down any questions and ask me during class or email them to me. Make an honest effort to complete all homework problems (see below). 6. HOMEWORK PROBLEMS Suggested homework problems from the text and supplementary handout problems will be assigned. These will be very useful in studying for the quizzes and exams, and I strongly suggest you make an honest attempt to solve them. I will NOT collect and assign points for these. However, we will work many of these problems together in class. Career Development Center: The Career Development Center (CDC) can assist students with the process of career and life planning through a full range of programs and services. You may schedule appointments with the CDC staff to discuss issues including interests, skills, values, and goal setting, as well as how to find career information, internships, full-time jobs, and graduate schools. You are encouraged to utilize the services of the CDC every year from your first semester to graduation. The CDC is located on the 1 st floor of the Reed Building (and online at http://pennstatebehrend.psu.edu/cdc). You can contact them by phone at 898-6164. Student Disabilities: Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should let me know as soon as possible so that we can make necessary accommodations. Students should present appropriate verification if applicable.
Learning Objectives for FIN 301: Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Chapter 6: Chapter 7: Chapter 8: Chapter 9: Chapter 10: Chapter 11: Chapter 12: Chapter 16: Define the main goal of the corporation and financial management. Explain what is meant by Common Size analysis and how it is used in financial statement analysis. List the five major categories of ratios and briefly discuss what each category measures. Understand how to use a financial calculator. Calculate FV and PV of lump sums. Understand how to use a timeline for solving TVM problems. Calculate the PV, FV, PMT, N or I/Y of ordinary annuities and annuities dues. Calculate the PV and required rate of return of a perpetuity investment. Compute EAR for different compounding periods. Construct and interpret a loan amortization schedule. Calculate the price, YTM, current yield and capital gains yield of semi-annual and annual bonds. Define the relationship for the required return and coupon payment for discount, premium, and par bonds. Construct and interpret a treasury yield curve. Define nominal vs. real returns. Calculate the price and required rate of return for common stocks using the dividend discount model (Table 7.1). Calculate the price of a preferred stock. Calculate the value of a common stock using the super-normal growth model. List the advantages and disadvantages of the payback, IRR, and NPV techniques. Create and interpret a Net Present Value Profile. Analyze various capital budgeting projects using NPV, IRR, and payback criteria. Define relevant cash flows, incremental cash flows, sunk costs, opportunity costs, and erosion. Calculate the average return and standard deviation for a series of stock prices. Contrast and illustrate a continuous and frequency distribution. Describe the historical relationship of risk and return for stocks and bonds. Define the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) in its three forms. Calculate the standard deviation and expected return for individual securities and portfolios. Explain the role of diversification. Explain how an investor measures risk for individual investments vs. portfolios. Calculate the required rate of return for an investment or portfolio using CAPM. Draw and explain the SML. Discuss the Logic of the WACC. Calculate cost of common equity, preferred equity, and debt. Rank common stock, bonds, and retained earnings in terms of cost of capital. Calculate the WACC for a company. Describe the components of the WACC equation, and the impact of taxes. Describe how the riskiness of the project impacts the capital budgeting decision. Define and calculate NWC, cash cycle, operating cycle, Inventory Period, and Days Sales Outstanding.
FIN 301 Tentative Schedule DATE CHAPTER: TOPIC QUIZ DUE DATES Jan 09 Syllabus & 1: Intro to Fin Management Jan 11 1: Intro to Fin Management Jan 13 2: Fin Statements, Taxes & Cash Flow Jan 16 NO CLASS: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Jan 18 2: Fin Statements, Taxes & Cash Flow Jan 20 3: Working with Fin Statements Quiz 1 (Ch. 1-2) Jan 23 3: Working with Fin Statements Jan 25 Catch-up & Review for Exam I Quiz 2 (Ch. 3) Jan 27 Exam I: Chapters 1-3 Jan 30 16: Short-Term Financial Planning Feb 01 16: Short-Term Financial Planning Feb 03 4: Intro to Valuation: Time Value of Money Quiz 3 (Ch.16) Feb 06 4: Intro to Valuation: Time Value of Money Feb 08 5: Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Quiz 4 (Ch. 4) Feb 10 5: Discounted Cash Flow Valuation Feb 13 Catch-up & Review for Exam II Quiz 5 (Ch. 5) Feb 15 Exam II: Chapters 16, 4-5 Feb 17 6: Interest Rates & Bond Valuation Feb 20 6: Interest Rates & Bond Valuation Feb 22 7: Equity Markets & Stock Valuation Quiz 6 (Ch. 6) Feb 24 7: Equity Markets & Stock Valuation Feb 27 7: Equity Markets & Stock Valuation Feb 29 Catch-up & Review for Exam III Quiz 7 (Ch. 7) Mar 02 Exam III: Chapters 6-7 Mar 05 NO CLASS: Spring Break Mar 07 NO CLASS: Spring Break Mar 09 NO CLASS: Spring Break Mar 12 8: NPV and Other Investment Criteria Mar 14 8: NPV and Other Investment Criteria Mar 16 8: NPV and Other Investment Criteria Mar 19 9: Making Capital Investment Decisions Mar 21 9: Making Capital Investment Decisions Quiz 8 (Ch. 8) Mar 23 9: Making Capital Investment Decisions Mar 26 9: Making Capital Investment Decisions Mar 28 Catch-up & Review for Exam IV Quiz 9 (Ch. 9) Mar 30 Exam IV: Chapters 8-9 FIN 301 Tentative Schedule is continued on the next page
FIN 301 Tentative Schedule (continued) DATE CHAPTER: TOPIC QUIZ DUE DATES Apr 02 10: Capital Market History Apr 04 10: Capital Market History Apr 06 11: Risk & Return Apr 09 11: Risk & Return Quiz 10 (Ch. 10) Apr 11 11: Risk & Return Apr 13 12: Cost of Capital Apr 16 12: Cost of Capital Quiz 11 (Ch. 11) Apr 18 12: Cost of Capital Apr 20 13: Leverage & Capital Structure Apr 23 13: Leverage & Capital Structure Quiz 12 (Ch. 12) Apr 25 13: Leverage & Capital Structure Apr 27 Review for Final Exam Apr 30 through May 4 are reserved for Final Exams TBA Final Exam: Comprehensive (but will focus on Chapters 10-13) All online quizzes are due on the dates listed above. The due dates are also listed on McGraw-Hill Connect. All quizzes are DUE BY 11:00pm on the due date shown. After 11:00pm on the due date, you will not have access to take the quiz. Any changes to this schedule will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to know what occurred in class, whether or not you actually attended. For school cancelations, call 898-6000 or check the campus website located at www.pennstatebehrend.psu.edu.