FIN305 Analysis of Risk, Return, and Sustainability of ASX Utility Companies

Due date 30^th March 2023

This assessment task is compulsory.

This assignment is worth 20% of the overall mark for the unit. This assignment is compulsory and failure to submit the assignment will result in fail incomplete (NI) Grade for this unit.

This assignment is aimed at facilitating real-world experience of understanding risk and return and sustainability initiatives undertaken by businesses. Students are to choose three ASX listed companies from utilities sector. Please ensure that you select one large (market capitalisation of greater than $5 billion), one medium (market capitalisation of less than $5 billion, but more than $1 billion) and one small company (market capitalisation of less than $ billion). You are required to gather the following information for the selected companies:

• Two most recent annual reports for each of the selected companies

• Collect ASX Share Price information for the chosen companies for the last 5 years (including up to the end of February 2023)

• Watch the most recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) (webcast) for each selected company

• Collect industry Information on the utilities sector

• Collect information on economic outlook for Australia and the outlook for the global economy

• Collect relevant published information on sustainability or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or broadly corporate social responsibility initiatives of selected businesses

Based on the information collected, you are required to prepare a report containing the following:

1. Analyse risk and return for the selected companies based on the information gathered.

2. Analyse the initiatives relating to SDGs in the three selected businesses.

3. Provide a discussion of comparison of risk and return and SDG initiatives for the selected companies.

Your assignment will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Evidence of information collected and analysed

• Correct estimation of risk and return and appropriate comparison. Details of estimation including any assumptions made are to be included in the report.

• Quality of analyses of initiatives relating to sustainability or SDGs by the selected companies.

• Analysis and comparison of risk and return and SDG initiatives for the selected companies. Discussion of the relationships between risk and return and SDG initiatives.

• Detailed list of sources and references used.

Learning Outcomes: 1 - 7.

Word Count: Approximately 2000 words. Word count shown here is a general guideline and given the nature of the assignment, numbers and other quantitative information incorporated in the assignment is not counted towards word count.