Financial Analysis of Tesco Supermarket Research Paper

Financial Analysis of Tesco Supermarket - Research Paper ExampleFor a potential investor, the stock of Tesco Plc is untouchablely recommended as better investment than its rival because it provides higher gains in the long-run.The performance of a business organization is quantitatively reflected in its fiscal statements. Ascertaining the financial health of a company has become important to different decision makers like managers, stockholders, potential investors and creditors. As such, it becomes important to evaluate the financial situation of any business organization to identify their relative strengths and weaknesses. In order to accomplish this task, this report will utilize financial ratio analysis.From its gloomy beginning as a one-man business in 1919, Tesco is now highly regarded for its size and strength in the global retailing industry. Tesco is engaged in international grocery and general merchandising retail chain. It is named as the largest retailer in Britain in terms of global sales and domestic market share. During 2006, it is estimated that in every 8 spent is UK retail sales, 1 is spent on Tesco indicating its strong foothold of the market (Tesco Plc 2007).The success of Tesco is based on a multiple long term growth strategy to grow the core UK business to become a successful international retailer to be as strong in food as in non-food and to develop retailing services such as Tesco personal finance, Telecoms and Tesco.com (Tesco Plc). With this, Tesco has established presence in international markets such as Ireland, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, and China and has complemented its core business with retailer service business such as online shopping, personal finance, and telecoms. In order to agree with regulatory requirements, Tesco has adopted the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in preparing its financial statements in the fiscal year 2005 (fro m UK GAAP). The adoption of IFRS is expected to lower the reported dollar volume and net income and increase debt. As with any other business organization, the company also recognizes the presence of risks and uncertainties in its operations. Financially, Tesco is facing challenges in the availability of fund to pucker business needs, the risk of default by counter-parties to financial transactions, and fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates (Tesco Plc 2007). In order to ensure fund availability, Tesco employs policy which includes smoothing the debt maturity profile, arranging funding ahead of requirements and