Stock Market Project - Family Dollar Stores Inc Essay

Stock Market Project - Family Dollar Stores Inc - Essay Example Company Information The Family Dollar Stores Inc was opened in 1959 and is now operating more than 6000 stores across the country. Its one of the largest regional based chains in US engaged in the retail business across the different states in the country. The firm is basically considered as a preference by the consumers who are willing to save on their groceries and other retail items. Though not all the items are sold under $1 however, the overall prices are reasonable and considered as affordable by most of the consumers. Major products of the firm include clothing, food and other household items. Firm is a regional business with little or no presence in other countries of the world however, it has achieved tremendous growth in its domestic market by regularly opening new stores across the country. Firm is reseller and sell retail items such durable and non-durable consumer goods. Competitors’ Overview and Industry Trends Major competitors of the firm include Wal-Mart, Doll ar Generation Corporation as well as Dollar Tree Inc. Wal-Mart is quite bigger in the size with international presence in different countries of the world. However, Wal-Mart is a not a typical dollar store though it offers low priced products to its customers. Other competitors are more or less same in size of the firm and are serving different niche markets. (Hoovers, 2011) Industry trends suggest that personal income as well as the fashion trends will be the dominating factors in clothing and other retail segments. Due to the current economic crisis, the overall purchasing power of the consumers has declined thus restricting the consumers to spend lavishly. Financial Analysis The overall operating margin of the firm is over 7% with profit margin in the range of 4.5% during the current period of 2010. Sales for the period ending August 2010 showed an increase of 6.3% despite the fact that the overall economic situation of the country was not feasible due to current economic crisis. Recent figures for the quarter also suggest that the firm has been able to record a return on equity of 28.70% with total return on assets of approximately 13%. This performance suggest that the firm has been able to perform well during the period and consistently recorded better performance despite difficult economic situation prevailing in the country. Stock’s Performance Analysis Firm has a total market capitalization of more than $6 Billions with 122 millions shares outstanding. Past 52 weeks range of prices suggest that the firm has hit the high value of $55.590 whereas the lowest price during the same period was recorded at $35.31. (Bloomberg, 2011). It is also important to note that the firm has been able to withstand the poison pill by rejecting the takeover bid from Peltz Train. (Burritt, 2011) A closer analysis of the firm’s stock performance would suggest that the overall share prices of the firm’s stock fluctuated over the period of time. During the first few years from 2003, the overall prices gradually increased while facing a dip in the prices during 2006. (Yahoo Finance, 2011). It is also important to note that the share prices of the firm remained stable during the current financial crisis despite the fact that overall consumer activity was low. This may however, be attributed to the fact that firm is considered as cheap chain store offering low cost products to

How to use modern technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How to use modern technology - Essay Example These young minds must therefore, be educated through events or activities on the benefits of modern technology. Consequently children equipped with knowledge on modern technology will provide a stable future for the country. Use of technology is central to the philosophy of developing a system equipped for the future and, to that end all children must have access to tools that form part of the fabric of their everyday lives. Technology is a tool, not a subject (Verma 78). Digital cameras have dramatically changed the way we take photographs. By suing cameras during the modern technology week fair children will be able to take photographs and later write projects and add pictures into them. In the process off this activity students get to know more about their community its surroundings and local people. In addition to this, they will also be gaining knowledge about modern technology as they handle the digital camera. In the event, a multicultural activity may be used to teach childr en about their community and also the use of modern technology. Multicultural education includes teaching children about their own culture and their ethnic heritage. It means exposing children to other diverse culture and helping them be comfortable with and respect all the ways in which people appear different to each other. This may be achieved by teaching the children how to relate to one another and how to play fairly. This encourages children to notice and think about fairness and challenges them to do something about the unfairness towards people they perceive in their world. Through activities like photography and use of other modern technological equipment children will get to intermingle with other people in society who come from different ethnic groups. This will help create a rapport as kids share the equipment and also put in efforts to attain set objectives of the modern technological event (Verma 78). Another activity in the modern technology fair includes the designin g of a community library. Emerging multi-ethnic populations in many communities and the increasingly urgently need for literacy and information technology skills call for a change in the design of library buildings(Verma 75).Libraries could become key communication centers, for mobile populations and their design will need to reflect the different levels and layers of entry or different temporal zones. Young people in this event get actively involved in the design of the service that would benefit hem in future. Through voicing their ideas by drawing or art or photography or in question and answer segment in the event, valuable information will be acquired of how to run a community library. Movies and short films may be aired in the event. During the event short films may be aired to be viewed by the children. Short films and movies offer the most visual and engaging learning tool for today’s children. This technology enhances the curriculum children are taught at school. On the spot, teachers can show video clips about almost any topic mainly those relating to the