Applied Financial Modeling - Final Project

During the first semester of my junior year, I faced the challenge of analyzing 10-K reports from companies in the retail sector as part of an Advanced Financial Modeling class. The goal was to extract and interpret financial data from multiple fiscal years to conduct a comparative analysis of three companies: Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart. A key challenge was understanding the complex financial data and industry trends to ensure accurate comparisons.

To address this, I collaborated with two partners, each focusing on one of the three companies. I took responsibility for analyzing Home Depot’s financials, extracting relevant data from their 10-K reports, and organizing the data in Excel for a comprehensive analysis. We focused on critical metrics such as WACC, leverage ratios, and dividends. Additionally, to ensure accurate interpretation, we conducted further research to understand the factors driving the financial numbers and the broader retail industry trends.

Our detailed analysis provided valuable insights into the financial health and performance of the three companies, helping us develop a well-rounded comparative model. The project allowed me to hone my financial modeling and analytical skills, and our findings contributed to a deeper understanding of how industry trends impact company performance.