ebook img

2020 CFA Program Curriculum: Level 2, Volume 2 PDF

415 Pages·2020·5 MB·English
Save to my drive
Quick download
Download
Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.

Preview 2020 CFA Program Curriculum: Level 2, Volume 2

© CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ANALYSIS CFA® Program Curriculum 2020 • LEVEL II • VOLUME 2 © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. © 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 by CFA Institute. All rights reserved. This copyright covers material written expressly for this volume by the editor/s as well as the compilation itself. It does not cover the individual selections herein that first appeared elsewhere. Permission to reprint these has been obtained by CFA Institute for this edition only. Further reproductions by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, must be arranged with the individual copyright holders noted. CFA®, Chartered Financial Analyst®, AIMR-PPS®, and GIPS® are just a few of the trade- marks owned by CFA Institute. To view a list of CFA Institute trademarks and the Guide for Use of CFA Institute Marks, please visit our website at www.cfainstitute.org. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. ISBN 978-1-946442-83-3 (paper) ISBN 978-1-950157-07-5 (ebk) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. CONTENTS How to Use the CFA Program Curriculum v Background on the CBOK v Organization of the Curriculum vi Features of the Curriculum vi Designing Your Personal Study Program viii Feedback ix Financial Reporting and Analysis Study Session 5 Financial Reporting and Analysis (1) 5 Reading 13 Intercorporate Investments 7 Introduction 8 Basic Corporate Investment Categories 8 Investments in Financial Assets: IFRS 9 10 Classification and Measurement 10 Reclassification of Investments 12 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures 13 Equity Method of Accounting: Basic Principles 14 Investment Costs That Exceed the Book Value of the Investee 17 Amortization of Excess Purchase Price 19 Fair Value Option 21 Impairment 21 Transactions with Associates 22 Disclosure 25 Issues for Analysts 25 Business Combinations 26 Acquisition Method 28 Impact of the Acquisition Method on Financial Statements, Post- Acquisition 30 The Consolidation Process 32 Financial Statement Presentation Subsequent to the Business Combination 38 Variable Interest and Special Purpose Entities 41 Additional Issues in Business Combinations That Impair Comparability 44 Summary 45 Practice Problems 47 Solutions 58 Reading 14 Employee Compensation: Post- Employment and Share- Based 63 Introduction 64 Pensions and Other Post- Employment Benefits 64 Types of Post- Employment Benefit Plans 65 Measuring a Defined Benefit Pension Plan’s Obligations 67 indicates an optional segment © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. ii Contents Financial Statement Reporting of Pension Plans and Other Post- Employment Benefits 69 Disclosures of Pension and Other Post- Employment Benefits 80 Share- Based Compensation 90 Stock Grants 93 Stock Options 94 Other Types of Share- Based Compensation 97 Summary 97 Practice Problems 99 Solutions 109 Reading 15 Multinational Operations 115 Introduction 116 Foreign Currency Transactions 117 Foreign Currency Transaction Exposure to Foreign Exchange Risk 118 Analytical Issues 121 Disclosures Related to Foreign Currency Transaction Gains and Losses 124 Translation of Foreign Currency Financial Statements 129 Translation Conceptual Issues 130 Translation Methods 134 Illustration of Translation Methods (Excluding Hyperinflationary Economies) 143 Translation Analytical Issues 146 Translation when a Foreign Subsidiary Operates in a Hyperinflationary Economy 158 Companies Use Both Translation Methods at the Same Time 162 Disclosures Related to Translation Methods 163 Multinational Operations and a Company’s Effective Tax Rate 169 Additional Disclosures on the Effects of Foreign Currency 172 Disclosures Related to Sales Growth 172 Disclosures Related to Major Sources of Foreign Exchange Risk 175 Summary 176 Practice Problems 180 Solutions 192 Reading 16 Analysis of Financial Institutions 199 Introduction 199 What Makes Financial Institutions Different? 200 Global Organizations 203 Individual Jurisdictions’ Regulatory Authorities 206 Analyzing a Bank 206 The CAMELS Approach 207 Other Factors Relevant to Analysis of a Bank 224 An Illustration of the CAMELS Approach to Analysis of a Bank 228 Analyzing an Insurance Company 250 Property and Casualty Insurance Companies 251 Life and Health Insurance Companies 259 indicates an optional segment © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. Contents iii Summary 266 Practice Problems 268 Solutions 276 Study Session 6 Financial Reporting and Analysis (2) 283 Reading 17 Evaluating Quality of Financial Reports 285 Introduction 286 Quality of Financial Reports 287 Conceptual Framework for Assessing the Quality of Financial Reports 287 Potential Problems that Affect the Quality of Financial Reports 289 Evaluating the Quality of Financial Reports 301 General Steps to Evaluate the Quality of Financial Reports 301 Quantitative Tools to Assess the Likelihood of Misreporting 302 Earnings Quality 306 Indicators of Earnings Quality 306 Evaluating the Earnings Quality of a Company (Cases) 315 Bankruptcy Prediction Models 327 Cash Flow Quality 329 Indicators of Cash Flow Quality 329 Evaluating Cash Flow Quality 330 Balance Sheet Quality 338 Sources of Information about Risk 342 Limited Usefulness of Auditor’s Opinion as a Source of Information about Risk 343 Risk- Related Disclosures in the Notes 346 Management Commentary (Management Discussion and Analysis, or MD&A) 350 Other Required Disclosures 353 Financial Press as a Source of Information about Risk 354 Conclusion 354 Practice Problems 358 Solutions 364 Reading 18 Integration of Financial Statement Analysis Techniques 367 Introduction 367 Case Study: Long- Term Equity Investment 369 Phase 1: Define a Purpose for the Analysis 369 Phase 2: Collect Input Data 369 Phase 3: Process Data and Phase 4: Analyze/Interpret the Processed Data 370 Phase 5: Develop and Communicate Conclusions and Recommendations (e.g., with an Analysis Report) 397 Phase 6: Follow- up 398 Summary 399 Practice Problems 400 Solutions 403 Glossary G-1 indicates an optional segment © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. v How to Use the CFA Program Curriculum C ongratulations on reaching Level II of the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) Program. This exciting and rewarding program of study reflects your desire to become a serious investment professional. You have embarked on a program noted for its high ethical standards and the breadth of knowledge, skills, and abilities (competencies) it develops. Your commitment to the CFA Program should be educationally and professionally rewarding. The credential you seek is respected around the world as a mark of accomplish- ment and dedication. Each level of the program represents a distinct achievement in professional development. Successful completion of the program is rewarded with membership in a prestigious global community of investment professionals. CFA charterholders are dedicated to life-l ong learning and maintaining currency with the ever- changing dynamics of a challenging profession. The CFA Program represents the first step toward a career-l ong commitment to professional education. The CFA examination measures your mastery of the core knowledge, skills, and abilities required to succeed as an investment professional. These core competencies are the basis for the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK™). The CBOK consists of four components: ■ ■ A broad outline that lists the major topic areas covered in the CFA Program (https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/curriculum/cbok); ■ ■ Topic area weights that indicate the relative exam weightings of the top-l evel topic areas (https://www.cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/curriculum/overview); ■ ■ Learning outcome statements (LOS) that advise candidates about the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities they should acquire from readings covering a topic area (LOS are provided in candidate study sessions and at the beginning of each reading); and ■ ■ The CFA Program curriculum that candidates receive upon examination registration. Therefore, the key to your success on the CFA examinations is studying and under- standing the CBOK. The following sections provide background on the CBOK, the organization of the curriculum, features of the curriculum, and tips for designing an effective personal study program. BACKGROUND ON THE CBOK The CFA Program is grounded in the practice of the investment profession. Beginning with the Global Body of Investment Knowledge (GBIK), CFA Institute performs a continuous practice analysis with investment professionals around the world to deter- mine the competencies that are relevant to the profession. Regional expert panels and targeted surveys are conducted annually to verify and reinforce the continuous feed- back about the GBIK. The practice analysis process ultimately defines the CBOK. The © 2019 CFA Institute. All rights reserved. © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. vi How to Use the CFA Program Curriculum CBOK reflects the competencies that are generally accepted and applied by investment professionals. These competencies are used in practice in a generalist context and are expected to be demonstrated by a recently qualified CFA charterholder. The CFA Institute staff, in conjunction with the Education Advisory Committee and Curriculum Level Advisors that consist of practicing CFA charterholders, designs the CFA Program curriculum in order to deliver the CBOK to candidates. The exam- inations, also written by CFA charterholders, are designed to allow you to demon- strate your mastery of the CBOK as set forth in the CFA Program curriculum. As you structure your personal study program, you should emphasize mastery of the CBOK and the practical application of that knowledge. For more information on the practice analysis, CBOK, and development of the CFA Program curriculum, please visit www.cfainstitute.org. ORGANIZATION OF THE CURRICULUM The Level II CFA Program curriculum is organized into 10 topic areas. Each topic area begins with a brief statement of the material and the depth of knowledge expected. It is then divided into one or more study sessions. These study sessions—17 sessions in the Level II curriculum—should form the basic structure of your reading and prepa- ration. Each study session includes a statement of its structure and objective and is further divided into assigned readings. An outline illustrating the organization of these 17 study sessions can be found at the front of each volume of the curriculum. The readings are commissioned by CFA Institute and written by content experts, including investment professionals and university professors. Each reading includes LOS and the core material to be studied, often a combination of text, exhibits, and in- text examples and questions. A reading typically ends with practice problems fol- lowed by solutions to these problems to help you understand and master the material. The LOS indicate what you should be able to accomplish after studying the material. The LOS, the core material, and the practice problems are dependent on each other, with the core material and the practice problems providing context for understanding the scope of the LOS and enabling you to apply a principle or concept in a variety of scenarios. The entire readings, including the practice problems at the end of the readings, are the basis for all examination questions and are selected or developed specifically to teach the knowledge, skills, and abilities reflected in the CBOK. You should use the LOS to guide and focus your study because each examination question is based on one or more LOS and the core material and practice problems associated with the LOS. As a candidate, you are responsible for the entirety of the required material in a study session. We encourage you to review the information about the LOS on our website (www. cfainstitute.org/programs/cfa/curriculum/study- sessions), including the descriptions of LOS “command words” on the candidate resources page at www.cfainstitute.org. FEATURES OF THE CURRICULUM OPTIONAL Required vs. Optional Segments You should read all of an assigned reading. In some SEGMENT cases, though, we have reprinted an entire publication and marked certain parts of the reading as “optional.” The CFA examination is based only on the required segments, and the optional segments are included only when it is determined that they might © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. How to Use the CFA Program Curriculum vii help you to better understand the required segments (by seeing the required material in its full context). When an optional segment begins, you will see an icon and a dashed vertical bar in the outside margin that will continue until the optional segment ends, accompanied by another icon. Unless the material is specifically marked as optional, you should assume it is required. You should rely on the required segments and the END OPTIONAL SEGMENT reading- specific LOS in preparing for the examination. Practice Problems/Solutions All practice problems at the end of the readings as well as their solutions are part of the curriculum and are required material for the examination. In addition to the in- text examples and questions, these practice problems should help demonstrate practical applications and reinforce your understanding of the concepts presented. Some of these practice problems are adapted from past CFA examinations and/or may serve as a basis for examination questions. Glossary For your convenience, each volume includes a comprehensive glossary. Throughout the curriculum, a bolded word in a reading denotes a term defined in the glossary. Note that the digital curriculum that is included in your examination registration fee is searchable for key words, including glossary terms. LOS Self- Check We have inserted checkboxes next to each LOS that you can use to track your progress in mastering the concepts in each reading. Source Material The CFA Institute curriculum cites textbooks, journal articles, and other publications that provide additional context and information about topics covered in the readings. As a candidate, you are not responsible for familiarity with the original source materials cited in the curriculum. Note that some readings may contain a web address or URL. The referenced sites were live at the time the reading was written or updated but may have been deacti- vated since then.   Some readings in the curriculum cite articles published in the Financial Analysts Journal®, which is the flagship publication of CFA Institute. Since its launch in 1945, the Financial Analysts Journal has established itself as the leading practitioner- oriented journal in the investment management community. Over the years, it has advanced the knowledge and understanding of the practice of investment management through the publication of peer- reviewed practitioner- relevant research from leading academics and practitioners. It has also featured thought- provoking opinion pieces that advance the common level of discourse within the investment management profession. Some of the most influential research in the area of investment management has appeared in the pages of the Financial Analysts Journal, and several Nobel laureates have contributed articles. Candidates are not responsible for familiarity with Financial Analysts Journal articles that are cited in the curriculum. But, as your time and studies allow, we strongly encour- age you to begin supplementing your understanding of key investment management issues by reading this practice- oriented publication. Candidates have full online access to the Financial Analysts Journal and associated resources. All you need is to log in on www.cfapubs.org using your candidate credentials. Errata The curriculum development process is rigorous and includes multiple rounds of reviews by content experts. Despite our efforts to produce a curriculum that is free of errors, there are times when we must make corrections. Curriculum errata are peri- odically updated and posted on the candidate resources page at www.cfainstitute.org. © CFA Institute. For candidate use only. Not for distribution. viii How to Use the CFA Program Curriculum DESIGNING YOUR PERSONAL STUDY PROGRAM Create a Schedule An orderly, systematic approach to examination preparation is critical. You should dedicate a consistent block of time every week to reading and studying. Complete all assigned readings and the associated problems and solutions in each study session. Review the LOS both before and after you study each reading to ensure that you have mastered the applicable content and can demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities described by the LOS and the assigned reading. Use the LOS self-c heck to track your progress and highlight areas of weakness for later review. Successful candidates report an average of more than 300 hours preparing for each examination. Your preparation time will vary based on your prior education and experience, and you will probably spend more time on some study sessions than on others. As the Level II curriculum includes 17 study sessions, a good plan is to devote 15−20 hours per week for 17 weeks to studying the material and use the final four to six weeks before the examination to review what you have learned and practice with practice questions and mock examinations. This recommendation, however, may underestimate the hours needed for appropriate examination preparation depending on your individual circumstances, relevant experience, and academic background. You will undoubtedly adjust your study time to conform to your own strengths and weaknesses and to your educational and professional background. You should allow ample time for both in-d epth study of all topic areas and addi- tional concentration on those topic areas for which you feel the least prepared. As part of the supplemental study tools that are included in your examination registration fee, you have access to a study planner to help you plan your study time. The study planner calculates your study progress and pace based on the time remaining until examination. For more information on the study planner and other supplemental study tools, please visit www.cfainstitute.org. As you prepare for your examination, we will e-m ail you important examination updates, testing policies, and study tips. Be sure to read these carefully. CFA Institute Practice Questions Your examination registration fee includes digital access to hundreds of practice questions that are additional to the practice problems at the end of the readings. These practice questions are intended to help you assess your mastery of individual topic areas as you progress through your studies. After each practice question, you will be able to receive immediate feedback noting the correct responses and indicating the relevant assigned reading so you can identify areas of weakness for further study. For more information on the practice questions, please visit www.cfainstitute.org. CFA Institute Mock Examinations Your examination registration fee also includes digital access to three-h our mock examinations that simulate the morning and after- noon sessions of the actual CFA examination. These mock examinations are intended to be taken after you complete your study of the full curriculum and take practice questions so you can test your understanding of the curriculum and your readiness for the examination. You will receive feedback at the end of the mock examination, noting the correct responses and indicating the relevant assigned readings so you can assess areas of weakness for further study during your review period. We recommend that you take mock examinations during the final stages of your preparation for the actual CFA examination. For more information on the mock examinations, please visit www.cfainstitute.org.

See more

The list of books you might like

Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.