For many investors, one of the most important sources of information is the company they are researching as a potential investment. Naturally, companies are eager to attract and retain investors. Hence, every bona fide publicly traded corporation will have a link on their web page entitled, “Investors,” “Investor Relations," or something to that effect. At the very least, you can order or download the latest annual and quarterly reports on their website. However, most companies will have audio or audio/visual webcasts available for download, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and other investor-related tools such as allowing you to enroll in electronic mail or text message alerts or even their Dividend Reinvestment Program (DRIP). Some even have research materials for students. But by far, the most popular item on a company's investors' relations website is the quarterly earnings call. Your assignment is to listen to or read at least 3 quarterly earnings calls. (Some companies only keep the audio version of the earnings call for a specific period but keep a PDF transcript for much longer.) Please choose at least 3 companies from the list below. Optionally, you may choose companies that are not on this list but please choose very large companies with significant global business. One idea is to choose major competitors as your choices below. Examples: If you choose MasterCard, then also look at Visa and Discover. If you choose Costco, then look at Amazon and Walmart. Company AMD (Woman CEO!) Date of % Earnings Call Growth Positive Outlook? (Y/N) What is your outlook for the company? (Use a separate sheet if necessary.) The Blackstone Group Caterpillar Chevron The Coca-Cola Company Costco CVS (Woman CEO!) GM (Woman CEO!) MasterCard Nike Pepsico Procter and Gamble Schlumberger Yum Brands Your choice: Your choice: In the presentations, you will hear many terms that you will probably not understand. Below are some of them. Please give a one- or two-line description of each of the following terms. (Find as many as you. What are SA and O expenses?!) 1) forward-looking statements 2) non-GAAP financial measures 3) SA and O expenses; SG and A expenses 4) basis point 5) top-line growth 6) bottom-line growth P.S. Other good examples include Alcoa, Disney, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, McDonald's, Microsoft, Philip Morris, Pfizer, 3M, FedEx, and UPS.