Essay Example for Free

Essay The objective of this paper is to compare the major players in the beverage/soft drink industry, Pepsi Co. Coca Cola Co. This paper will give you sound information on which company to invest in as well as taking a deeper look at both companies over all. My analysis will be made based on the company’s income statements, horizontal, vertical analysis, balances sheets and financial statement ratios. This along with other information should give you a clear picture of which company is the best company to invest in. Researching this analysis is needed find the soundest corporation for investment. Out of the myriad of sodas, Coca Cola and PepsiCo. are the most recognized name and the most known rivalry in the soft drink industry. Coca-Cola owns the somewhat disputed title as being the best cola brand worldwide. Some on the other hand know PepsiCo as the rival brand because Coca Cola has had such great marketing and advertising. In 2004, PepsiCo achieved marginally growth rate in net profit and sales, where Coca Cola has maintained profit margin. The PepsiCo. presented lower short-term liquidity risk to investors compared to Coca Cola. Coca Cola and PepsiCo. There was low long-term solvency risk with PepsiCo’s risk being marginally greater than Coca Cola’s. PepsiCo’s overall asset in my opinion was more proficient than Coca Cola. These and other companies help investor confidence and market share with their sales margins. PepsiCo stock is dividend-generating stock, but Coca Co la has had a higher yield and payout. Coca Cola has had a superior profit margin and dividends are lucrative to investors in this industry but PepsiCo’s diversification, low short-term liquidity risk, low long- term solvency risk, make it a proficient asset application for PepsiCo stock look like a better investment. The competition between these two soda giants is strong. Having said that, there is still a point where price is not the issue but taste. Some people swear by the taste in this loyal brand market. These two corporations have concentrated on cultivating brand management through applicable advertising, marketing campaigns. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, â€Å"Coca-Cola remains the best globally recognized brand across all industries for ages, while PepsiCo’s brand ranked number 26 in year 2008.† PepsiCo has been able differentiate itself from competitors by tapping into other markets like chips and healthy alternative foods. While PepsiCo is known for their soda, their expansion is clear in showing there is a need for other things being non-soda. The time for vitality comes with diversification because there are true signs of a shift in consumption. The decrease in soda consumption raises PepsiCo. has positioned it to continue to remain profitable for its shareholde rs. The income statement of PepsiCo’s COS to sales percentage slightly rose from 43.31% in year 2004. Coca-Cola’s five-year average COS to sales percentage was only 35.26%, much lower than PepsiCo. Coca Cola was able to achieve a higher gross profit margin with lower COS to sales percentage. PepsiCo is the consequence of its tougher pricing structure. â€Å"PepsiCo arguably has the most diverse set of distribution systems of any consumer product company, including direct store delivery (DSD) at Frito-Lay and our bottling partners, warehouse delivery for Quaker products, and warehouse delivery and chilled DSD at Tropicana. The reach and scale of these systems provide considerable cost efficiency and system effectiveness in driving value. Our systems deliver product freshness and quality for the consumer; generate cash flow for our retail customers, and pro- vide economic value for PepsiCo. Our products respond very well to merchandising, and need to be replenished ofte n because they sell so quickly. By having our DSD associates deliver products and stock the shelves themselves, we save retailers money by doing this labor for them, and help make sure our products are fresh, available and displayed to our advantage.† http://www.pepsico.com/Download/2004-Annual-English.pdf According to the Business Insider, Coca Cola has 42% of the market share while Pepsi Co. has 31%. The annual revenue for two companies is $35.2 billion and $57.8 billion respectively. Coca Cola spending roughly $2 billion on advertising while their rival spend around $1.1 billion. http://www.businessinsider.com/coca-cola-vs-pepsi-timeline-2013-1?op=1 â€Å"PepsiCo is the largest food-and-beverage company in the United States, and the second-largest in the world, after Nestlà ©. If PepsiCo were a country, the size of its economy—sixty billion dollars in revenues in 2010—would put it sixty-sixth in gross national product, between Ecuador and Croatia. Many studies point to the ubiquity of high-calorie, low-cost processed foods and drinks as one of the major drivers of this condition. Snacks, in particular, play a role in childhood obesity, which is growing even faster than obesity in adults. Americans consume about fifty gallons of soda a year, more than four times the a verage per-capita consumption sixty years ago. Americans also ingest about thirty-four hundred milligrams of sodium per day, twice the recommended amount; sodium has long been linked to high blood pressure. almost half of PepsiCo’s business is overseas (thirty per cent of it in developing countries), foreign markets eventually tend to follow U.S. trends. The markets of the future may well be in â€Å"packaged nutrition†Ã¢â‚¬â€in enriched products like PepsiCo’s SoBe Lifewater, which contains vitamins, and in its pricey Naked line of fruit juices and smoothies, which contain antioxidants. Another growing category is â€Å"functional† foods and beverages, like varieties of the sports drink Gatorade, which PepsiCo markets for specific physiological or metabolic attributes. (Thanks to Gatorade’s new â€Å"fit series,† you can drink G1 Prime before you work out, G2 Perform during your workout, and G3 Recover when you’re cooling down.† http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/05/16/110516fa_fact_seabrook?currentPage=2 The above quote taken from the New Yorker shows that diversity in such a highly competitive beverage market, diversity is needed. Coke depends on the consumption of their product. That is still their main source of revenue for the company. It could be said that maybe PepsiCo is too diverse. I would say I see this as an example of ensuring a proper return to the investor and keeping the integrity of the company. PepsiCo displayed advanced long-term affluence risk due to its higher debt to equity ratio of 1.24 and higher long-term debt to equity ratio of 0.68 on average, compared to Coca-Cola’s 0.90 and 0.29. The soda industry is wide and there are always new players but PepsiCo has managed its debt obligations more so than Coca-Cola by the measure of times interest earned ratio. PepsiCo had a better average return on common equity of 33.92% than Coca-Cola’s 30.29%, whereas both companies had similar return on assets with Coca-Cola’s 16.54% average only being slightly better. PepsiCo and Coca Cola are the leaders in the caramel color soda market. There earning regardless of the company you select show the investor that their staying power is evident. References Books Brigham, E, F, Erhhardth, M, C (2005). Financial Management Theory and Practice. Eleventh Edition. South Western Publishers Thomas, A, (2002). Introduction to Financial Accounting. Fourth Edition. McGraw Hill. Websites Kulawik, A (2009), The development of Coca Cola Advertising Campaigns, retrieved on November 29th, 2010 from, http://images.nexto.pl/upload/publisher/All%20Free%20Media/public/the_development_of_coca-cola_advertising_campaigns_(1886-2007)_demo.pdf Andrew (2002), A brief Pepsi History retrieved on November 29th 2010 from, Day, J (2008), Theme: Analyzing Financial Statements, retrieved on 30th November 2010 from Gattis ,C,G.(2009).Using Financial Ratios http://bluepointstrategies.com/uploads/White_Paper_-_Using_Financial_Ratios.pdf [30th November 2010]

History and Global Impact Vibrio Cholerae and Cholera :: Diarrhea Bacteria Disease

Vibrio Cholerae and Cholera - The History and Global Impact Abstract Cholera is a diarrhea disease caused by the bacteria, Vibrio Cholera. For centuries, cholera has terrorized the world. There have been seven pandemics since 1817 and many lives have been lost. Even to this day, cholera runs rampant in many areas of the world. The impact cholera has had on the world is enormous. Cholera has caused immense amount of human suffering and economic/social loss since its beginning. But, as time goes on, discoveries are made and ideas are created on treatments that save many lives and some places are now cholera free. In those regions, Cholera is a thing of the past; while in other parts of the world, it is very much still a threatening disease of the present and future. ______________________________________________________________________________ Cholera, the massive watery diarrhea disease, has struck the earth with its angry fists since the beginnings of civilization. From the start, Vibrio cholerea has infested the world and Cholera has especially terrorized the world in a series of pandemics. Without a doubt, Cholera has traveled throughout the whole world, stopping to pillage multitudes of cities of many of its inhabitants. It knows no boundaries. The only place it hasn’t ruthlessly invaded is the barren ice desert of Antarctica. Even to this day, cholera still robs places of lives. The first Cholera pandemic broke out in 1817. Cholera outbreaks continued to spread across Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa until 1823 (Barua Pg.8). Where the pandemic began is controversial, but cholera was definitely present in multiple places prior to and during 1817. India was an area that was affected by cholera in 1822. The fatality rates among the native and English troops in India were 21 for every 100 for the natives and 10 per 100 for the English (Barua Pg.8). Six years after the first Cholera pandemic, another pandemic sprang up. The second pandemic flew through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, some parts of Africa and the United States from 1829 to 1851. There were many â€Å"violent epidemics† sprinkled throughout the pandemic. One particularly violent epidemic took place on a pilgrimage to Mecca, where many died, including the Mecca and Jeddah governors and the Pasha (Barua Pg.9). Another outbreak that took place near Mecca was in 1846 where 15,000 people died (Barua Pg.10). However, as more cases of cholera appeared more new ideas for treatments did too. History and Global Impact Vibrio Cholerae and Cholera :: Diarrhea Bacteria Disease Vibrio Cholerae and Cholera - The History and Global Impact Abstract Cholera is a diarrhea disease caused by the bacteria, Vibrio Cholera. For centuries, cholera has terrorized the world. There have been seven pandemics since 1817 and many lives have been lost. Even to this day, cholera runs rampant in many areas of the world. The impact cholera has had on the world is enormous. Cholera has caused immense amount of human suffering and economic/social loss since its beginning. But, as time goes on, discoveries are made and ideas are created on treatments that save many lives and some places are now cholera free. In those regions, Cholera is a thing of the past; while in other parts of the world, it is very much still a threatening disease of the present and future. ______________________________________________________________________________ Cholera, the massive watery diarrhea disease, has struck the earth with its angry fists since the beginnings of civilization. From the start, Vibrio cholerea has infested the world and Cholera has especially terrorized the world in a series of pandemics. Without a doubt, Cholera has traveled throughout the whole world, stopping to pillage multitudes of cities of many of its inhabitants. It knows no boundaries. The only place it hasn’t ruthlessly invaded is the barren ice desert of Antarctica. Even to this day, cholera still robs places of lives. The first Cholera pandemic broke out in 1817. Cholera outbreaks continued to spread across Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa until 1823 (Barua Pg.8). Where the pandemic began is controversial, but cholera was definitely present in multiple places prior to and during 1817. India was an area that was affected by cholera in 1822. The fatality rates among the native and English troops in India were 21 for every 100 for the natives and 10 per 100 for the English (Barua Pg.8). Six years after the first Cholera pandemic, another pandemic sprang up. The second pandemic flew through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, some parts of Africa and the United States from 1829 to 1851. There were many â€Å"violent epidemics† sprinkled throughout the pandemic. One particularly violent epidemic took place on a pilgrimage to Mecca, where many died, including the Mecca and Jeddah governors and the Pasha (Barua Pg.9). Another outbreak that took place near Mecca was in 1846 where 15,000 people died (Barua Pg.10). However, as more cases of cholera appeared more new ideas for treatments did too.

Mc Donald’s and the Health and Tick Approval

At the advent of problems, McDonald’s is torn between choices of actions.   Finally, it learned to adopt to change and impose innovation in its system which in turn brought positive effect on the company.   Upon the advice of the Public Relations agency, the company made necessary action to counteract against bad publicity; and the most important among the strategies is the Heart and Tick Approval.IntroductionGlobally, McDonald’s offers what people need in this period of globalization.   The American culture of fast food chain as a place for people who could not afford to prepare foods at home since both parents are working began to penetrate Asian culture.   In the same thought, McDonald’s became a place to celebrate birthdays and to engage in conversation.   Generally, fast food chains like McDonald’s is a good place to go for busy people who seek the comfort of living.   Mc Donald became part of the culture of the modern times.Mc Donald†™s after the controversial ads â€Å"the Super Size Me† of Spurlock had come up with a strategy to regain their control of the market in terms of fast food at least to create a positive image on their company as being concerned with the health of its patronage. This particular strategy which they had adopted was the Heart and Tick Program that tests the product from unhealthy ingredients that may harm the product and the consumers as well.   The program uses the symbol heart which means that the food is heart-friendly.For some, this symbol on the label of every product of McDonald’s is a kind of exploitation because they use it as their promotional strategy.   The heart of the Foundation itself gives a subconscious message that stirs the mind of the consumers trying to deceive them by telling that McDonald’s product are good when they are not.Though in previous years, McDonald’s had been perennially successful, yet due to the decline of its shares a nd sales in 1998, had devised a strategic plan that brought change to the company’s perspective in response to the controversy.   This leads for the introduction of the Health choices and the tick approvals known as the Heart Foundation.The changes that have been taken by the company are the result of the many controversies that challenged the popularity and sincerity of McDonald in its ethical obligation to environment and to its consumers.   This is because the company is resistant to any forces that may alter change.Generic Change Tools or Solutions AppliedThe â€Å"Super Size Me† ads brought a big controversy on McDonald’s everywhere in the world and the media identified it or linked it to ‘obesity.’   Therefore, the company had finally decided to impose innovation to counter bad public publicity of the McDonald’s and adopted changes in their menu offerings.   In a forum organized by Liberal Senator Guy Barnett, Mr. Peter Bush, th e CEO of McDonald’s Australia, explained that their company takes on a new food offerings that will absolutely health-friendly (Burton, p. 30).   The writer further emphasized that McDonald’s added a new range of salads to their meal, with the cutting of sugar content in the buns and less calorie count from all the foods.   It has also lessened its advertising by sixty percent every hour.The particular solution to this controversy is giving in to the public demand which is related to obesity that is associated with other illness common to people nowadays such as high blood pressure and heart failure. The company itself adopted the principles of the Tick Program of the Heart Foundation.   In Australia, The Heart Foundation Tick is the solution to the growing obesity rates among children and adults.   Healthy choices of food became the consumers’ demand in many industrialized countries like Australia.   In a latest survey, 93% of Australians food had the greater role in producing overweight children and adults (Heart Foundation).Modified or abandoned to suit organizational requirements.Robert Dransfield explained in his paper that the strategic planning that McDonald’s had undertaken is a response to all the challenges that the company is facing including its competitors in the burger business (p. 460).   This is very important because competitive advantage is created by combining strengths which means Mc Donald can exploit competencies and advantage at different points in the value chain to add more value in different ways.   In other words, the value of the product which McDonald’s produces such as hamburger, drinks, fries and other food products, is the perceived benefit that customer would be kept coming back. It also means that value comes from product differentiation, product cost, and the ability of McDonald’s to meet clients’ demands.The writer also noted that strategic planning is very criti cal because it shapes the future of the organization as it must meet the customers’ demands and needs.   Dransfield emphasized that McDonald developed competitive strategies that differentiate it from its rivals (p. 461), in which it recognizes the need to respond to the greater demand to increase competitive gap by: â€Å"adding greater value through innovation, making the process of visiting a McDonald’s less routine and controlled, and enhancing the overall in-house experience† (p.461).In particular, McDonald’s provides appropriate solutions such as â€Å"(a) providing a more balanced offering that includes fruits, sugar-free fruit drinks for children and more chicken products, and (b) by creating an Extra-Value Meal and a McChoice menu offering that provides excellent value for money† because price is critical to decision making (p. 461).McDonald’s has to strategically cut the prices of their product as a respond also to the â€Å"bur gers wars† with the Burger King’s attack.   Thus, McDonald’s â€Å"sought worldwide leadership on the global fast food market through low cost production of a standardized menu† (Grant, p. 1117).   Robert Morris Grant explained that McDonald’s strategy is founded on a central belief that is to be willing to cut price in order to boost volume growth.Another strategy which McDonald’s undertook was using the persona of Ronald McDonald that looked lovable and laughable to children.   This figure as a part of Public Relations strategy of McDonald’s conveys a marketing motivation.   According to Bob Burton, the clown suit means: â€Å"Ronald loves McDonald’s and McDonald’s food† (Burton, p. 34).This quotation indicates â€Å"that you should do everything you can to appeal to children’s love Ronald and McDonald’s† (p. 34).   The clown is also used in charitable activities of the company; it is seen in many hospitals across Australia and other charitable places.   Burton emphasized that in one of McDonald’s document, the overall objective of the company is not simply to give something back to the community but also to help differentiate McDonald’s from its competitors (p. 34).Alternative Strategies and Change ToolsThere are plenty of strategies that McDonald’s company had take into consideration and its tools are Public Relation and mass media.   The strategies such as the price reduction, affiliation to Heart Foundation, and using the clown Ronald McDonald became effective in bringing back the positive image of the company.   There are other strategies that were employed but these three are very important factors in the process.Its Public Relations group – the Golin/ Harris Communications -played an important in the overall task. They figured different strategies and brought McDonald’s closer to its consumers once again.   Thi s event in the life of McDonald’s is the turning point for it to become once again a giant in business and at the same time responsible enough in its obligation to public.   The mass media made things possible for McDonald’s for bringing all promotional activities to the public in a split of a second.ConclusionChange or innovation is very important in a company in order to adapt to the demand of the customers.   Change may be planned or unplanned, but any problem would beget another problem if not attended to.   This is the case of McDonald’s has learned its lesson; it should not remain confident in many challenges but be ready always for the challenges.   Organization such as this must adopt new strategies and employ change from time to time.   Innovation and creativity are the words that can help the company moving and growing.Work CitedBurton, Bob 2007. Inside Spin: The Dark Underbelly of the PR Industry. Australia: Allen and UnwinDransfield, Robert 2004. Business for Foundation Degrees and Higher Awards. Heinemann Educational PublishersGrant, Robert Morris 1998.   Contemporary Strategy Analysis. Blackwell Publishing.National Heart Foundation of Australia 2006http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/document/NHF/Tick_Brochure_FINAL_2006-11-02.pdf

Caste Based Discrimination And Caste - 771 Words

INTRODUCTION: Since last two-decade higher education in India has been witnessing an increase in enrollment number across social groups such as first generation, female, rural and the lower caste students. This has changed student demographics in academic disciplines. Due to diverse students’ group on college campuses, the higher education institutions are facing diversity, social justice and discrimination issues. Caste-based discrimination is one of the issues which is pervasive across the institutions in India (Neelakandan Patil, 2012; Nambissan, 2006 2009; Patwardhan Palshikar, 1992). The lower caste students have been experiencing discrimination from primary education to higher education institutions. Caste-based discrimination is under researched (Thorat Kumar, 2008) topic, thus nature of discrimination and its impact on academic outcome of the lower caste students demand comprehensive studies through various theoretical perspectives. In the paper, caste-based discrimination in h igher education is studied and classified through â€Å"Microaggression† theory (Sue et al., 2007). The caste is an identity status and a caste identity is one of the most significant social identity in Indian society and it is a fundamental identification character of an individual. In the theory of microaggression, an identity plays a crucial role between a recipient (subordinate) and a perpetrator (dominant). The paper encompasses social identity theory (Harro, 2013; Smith, 2005) toShow MoreRelatedApplication Of Microaggression Theory Study Caste Based Discrimination1558 Words   |  7 Pagesof Microaggression theory to study caste-based discrimination: â€Å"Every black child will recognize and defend promptly and adequately against every offensive micro-aggression. In this way, the toll that is registered after accumulation of such insults should be markedly reduced (Pierce, 1970, p. 280)†. 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