preview

Management's Discussion And Analysis: The MD & A

Decent Essays

Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Leonie Rhoden
Liberty University

Management’s Discussion and Analysis or as it’s more frequently referred to as the MD&A. The MD&A discusses the company’s year of operation and finances through the eyes of management. The MD&A also analyses and discusses the company’s future goals and actions. The main purpose of the MD&A is to offer stock holders and investors insight into the company’s finances and management performance. Because the MD&A is a section in the company’s annual report it helps to hold the company and management more accountable for their actions.
Even though the MD&A is a requirement from the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) it is important to remember that investors …show more content…

We saw rapid growth in kids merchandise and here’s why
Emphasis the main things first this would be considered Top-down analysis.
Answer the most important question: Why? Whether it’s the SEC, the directors or investors they will all want to know the reason Why? Sales were up 10% - why were sales up? The quarter was down based on foreign currencies – why did this affect our quarter?
Combine your charts/graphs. Don’t just have one chart showing this year’s Net Assets and a separate chart showing the previous, combine them for easier reading. On the SEC’s website under Financial Reporting Manual Topic 9 it goes into specific details as to how and what to include on the MD&A. The three main objectives are as follows …show more content…

to provide a narrative explanation of the company’s financial statement that enables the investors to see the company through the eyes of management
b. to enhance the overall financial disclosure and provide the context within which financial information should be analyzed.
c. to provide information about the quality of, and potential variability of, a company’s earnings and cash flow so that investors can ascertain the likelihood that past performance is indicative of future performance. From here the page breaks down more as to what is required in the MD&A. It states what is required and even in some instances how to word the information. It’s like a manual of how management is to prepare the MD&A and consistently reminds management that this information will also be for the investors.
The MD&A is report that you may also say helps to keep investors or to attract potential investors. Other than discussing the company’s previous year the MD&A also explains the future endeavors of the company. Management can explain how the company is positioned in the market with their goods or services and just how they plan to grow sales to get a greater market share whether it’s by increasing production or opening new facilities. While they still have to remember to answer the most pertinent question –

Get Access