The two retail companies picked are Walmart and Costco whose 2017 Financial statement links are provided below: WALMART https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ wmt/financials?query=income- statement COSTCO https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ cost/financials?query=income- statement Both organizations are well known brands and position themselves well with their customer base. Walmart’s value proposition is “We save people money so they can live better”. On the other hand, Costco’s value proposition is “All-in-one convenience and everyday affordability”. Both retailers focus on cost saving for their customers. Looking at their financial statements and by analyzing them a few key areas are evident when comparing the two organization. Looking at the current ratio and quick ratio we can determine the short-term solvency of each organization. The current ratio can be determined by dividing the assets by the liabilities. Walmart’s current ratio sits at 0.86 while Costco’s sits at 0.99. The quick ratio is c...
The company I’ve selected is called Weis Markets Inc. It is a regional grocery store that started and is based here in Pennsylvania (Corporate office in Sunbury, PA) and has expanded into the surrounding states of New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Maryland. It is a publicly traded company with no parent company and offers a variety of products from fresh produce, dairy, meat, frozen foods, floral arrangement, prescription pharmacy, and canned or boxed grocery products. There are various stakeholders, most notably its shareholders, employees, customers, community members, and non-profit organizations. Some of the positive ethical behaviors performed by Weis Markets include rotating monthly fundraising programs such as Fight Hunger (donations for local food banks), Paws for Pets (donations for local animal shelters), donations to PVA (Paralyzed Veterans Association), milk donations to food banks, store donations for local nonprofits, and community contribution to local public areas and parks (such as the maintenance of the Rail Trail). Weis markets also offers health benefits, 401K plans (matching 25% of the first 6% of payroll deductions), scholarships for employees or employees’ dependents, reimbursement for mileage in work related trips, starting part-time employees start at $9.00/hour (above the minimum wage), an energy reduction program that cuts drastically to the carbon footprint of the corporation, and other in-store programs or activities for employees.
There are many beneficiaries from Weis Market’s ethical behavior, from community members to employees. Some of these benefits include, better public spaces and parks for the community, help to students who are seeking higher education, better funding for local organizations that seek to directly improve the community and its members.
As a whole, Weis Markets does a decent job of caring for its surrounding community without jeopardizing its bottom line and risking their financial investments.
There are many beneficiaries from Weis Market’s ethical behavior, from community members to employees. Some of these benefits include, better public spaces and parks for the community, help to students who are seeking higher education, better funding for local organizations that seek to directly improve the community and its members.
As a whole, Weis Markets does a decent job of caring for its surrounding community without jeopardizing its bottom line and risking their financial investments.
I’ve worked for Weis Markets for two years and am acquainted with many of their programs that give back to the community. Supplemental information was also taken from weismarkets.com
Some questions to consider:
Is a starting wage of $9.00 considered positive ethical behavior since it is significantly above the minimum wage of $7.25? Or does it fall short of the expected $15.00 that many advocates root for as a livable minimum wage?
In fundraising for nonprofits, is the company viewed in a positive light since it organizes raising the funds for nonprofit organizations? Or does it fall short, since it does not use its own funds to give to said nonprofits?
In fundraising for nonprofits, is the company viewed in a positive light since it organizes raising the funds for nonprofit organizations? Or does it fall short, since it does not use its own funds to give to said nonprofits?
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