Analyzing a firm's current financing choices Assignment

Analyzing a firm's current financing choices - Assignment Example Walt Disney is one of the largest entertainment companies in the world. It was founded by two brothers Walt and Ray in 1923 with an initial objective of being a cartoon animation network. Since then the company has grown to become one of the largest studios of Hollywood. In addition, this company is one of the Dow Jones industrial average components. Finally, the company has expanded over the years and currently it has a number of subsidiaries e.g. Euro Disney and Hong Kong Disney. (disney.com,2008) From the balance sheet, we find the company has a common stock of 3.6 billion authorized shares with a par value of $0.1. From the authorized 2.6 billion shares were issued on 29th march, 2008 and 29th September, 2007. This makes the value of the company’s equity to be $26.546billion. In addition, the company has a preferred stock of 100 million authorized shares with a par value of $0.1. Walt Disney has not issued any of its preferred stock yet. There are significant differences between preferred stock and common stock. They include; On the other hand, for Walt Disney to fully finance its operations it has to have long-term and short-term debts. The long term debts include differed income taxes, borrowings, minority interests, and other unspecified long-term liabilities. To maintain short-term cash flow the company also has the following short-term debts; account payables and other unspecified accrued liabilities, current portion of borrowings and finally unearned royalties and other advances. Walt Disney like any other big company in United States has treasury stock of 780.3 million shares by 29th march, 2008. This is the stock that has been repurchased by the corporation from the public. The stock must be issued first, purchased by the public and paid for subsequently reacquired by the corporation, and cancelled or reissued. Treasury stock is not entitled to participate in dividend distribution and finally it does not have