Financial Analysis of Caltex Australia

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Unit Code: HI5002
Unit Title: Finance for Business
Group Assignment

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Abstract
The report has evaluated the financial performance of Caltex Australia for proving
recommendation to a potential investors regarding investment within the company. The financial
performance has been analyzed with the use of ratio analysis, cash management, and sensitivity
analysis and dividend payout ratio. It is recommended to an investor to hold back the share and
not to invest within the company due to its weak financial position as depicted with ratio
analysis.

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Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Section I: Introduction.....................................................................................................................4
Section II: Detailed financial analysis of Caltex Australia..............................................................4
Section 2.1: Brief description of Caltex Australia...........................................................................4
Section 2.2: Use of ratios to evaluate the performance of Caltex Australia....................................4
Profitability Ratios of Caltex Australia........................................................................................4
Operating Efficiency Ratio..........................................................................................................7
Section 2.3: Use of marketable securities for cash management.....................................................9
Section 2.4: Sensitivity Analysis through using the given data.....................................................10
Section 2.5: Identification and discussion on systematic risk and Unsystematic risk that impacts
the performance of Caltex Australia..............................................................................................16
Systematic Risks associated with Caltex Australia....................................................................16
Unsystematic Risks associated with the Caltex Australia.........................................................16
Section 2.6: Calculation of dividend payout of Caltex Australia for last three years and
interpretation of dividend policy used by Caltex...........................................................................17
Dividend Payout Ratio of Caltex Australia................................................................................17
Section III: Letter of Recommendation to the client.....................................................................19
Section IV: Conclusion..................................................................................................................19
References......................................................................................................................................20

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Section I: Introduction
The purpose of the assignment is to provide recommendation to an institutional investor
aiming to invest within Australian market by undertaking an analysis of the financial
performance of an ASX listed entity. The ASX listed entity selected for the purpose of
conducting financial evaluation is Caltex Australia, a supplier of transport fuel and convenience
retailing products. The financial evaluation of the selected company has been done by analysis of
its performance ratios such as profitability and operational efficiency. This is followed by
analyzing its cash management and performing sensitivity analysis on the data provided. Also, it
has outlined the systematic and unsystematic risks related with the company and also evaluated
its dividend policy. Lastly, it provides recommendation to a potential investor regarding the
financial health of the company to support the investment decisions on the basis of overall
evaluation carried out. It also includes a conclusions section in the last to summarize the overall
findings generated through the report.
Section II: Detailed financial analysis of Caltex Australia
Section 2.1: Brief description of Caltex Australia
Caltex Australia is a publicly listed ASX company involved in supplying of transport fuel
and also operates as a convenient retailer within Australian market. The core segments of the
company includes purchasing, refining,, distributing and marketing of petroleum based products
and also having its own convenience stores in the country. It has established in period of 1990s
and is regarded to be only fuel based company of Australia that is listed on the ASX. It has
presently attained a distinctive position within the oil and gas sector of the country owing to its
leading position in transporting fuels. It is known to supply about one third of transport fuel
needs within Australian market. The leading position has been attained by the company owning
to its agile supply chain that enables it in providing safe and high quality fuel based products to
its diverse customers such as retail, mining, aviation, agriculture, automotive sector and the
government. It has developed its unique position among all the refiner and marketers in Australia
by conducting its operations in an independent manner and all the decisions are taken by the
management and Board members as it is only publicly listed company. It has the presence of
about 3,500 employees working across the country and is known to be one of the biggest
companies developing attractive job opportunities and supporting the development of
employment sector within the country (Caltex Australia: Our Company, 2018).
Section 2.2: Use of ratios to evaluate the performance of Caltex Australia
Profitability Ratios of Caltex Australia
Financial Data of Caltex Australia for calculation of Profitability Ratio

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Financial Items 2015 2016 2017 2018
Amount in $ Thousands
Gross profit
$
1,888,135.00
$
1,992,969.00
$
2,160,426.00
$
2,124,348.00
Net profit after tax
$
522,621.00
$
610,480.00
$
620,752.00
$
561,590.00
Cash flow from
operating activities
$
884,666.00
$
928,202.00
$
735,032.00
$
596,504.00
Net Sales
$
19,926,546.00
$
17,933,201.00
$
16,285,810.00
$
21,731,342.00
Total Assets
$
5,104,741.00
$
5,302,734.00
$
6,355,220.00
$
6,727,623.00
Average total assets
$
5,203,737.50
$
5,828,977.00
$
6,541,421.50
Profitability Ratio of Caltex Australia
Ratios Formula 2016 2017 2018
Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit/Sales 11.11% 13.27% 9.78%
Cash flow margin
Cash flow from
operating
activities/Net sales
5.18% 4.51% 2.74%
Return on Assets
Net profit after
tax/Average total
assets
11.73% 10.65% 8.59%
(Caltex Australia, 2018, 2017 and 2016)

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2016 2017 2018
0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00%
12.00%
14.00%
11.11%
13.27%
9.78%
5.18%
4.51%
2.74%
11.73%
10.65%
8.59%
Profitability Ratio of Caltex Australia
Percentage
The profitability of Caltex Australia can be analyzed by using the following ratios.
 Gross profit margin: Gross profit margin reveals the money left after paying cost of
goods sold. Gross profit margin indicates financial success and viability of products and
services of the company. It can be said from analyzing the trend of the ratio for the
company over the past three years that gross profit has been improved over the period of
time. Net sales of the company have been decreased in 2015, 2016 and 2017 but in 2018
a boost can be noticed in net sales. In 2017 nets sales was $ 16,285,810.00 that have
increased to $ 21,731,342.00 resulting a decline in the gross profit margin of 3.49%.
 Cash flow margin: Operating cash flow margin is a profitability ratio that measures net
operating cash flow from operating activities as a percentage of net sales in a particular
period. Cash flow margin states how efficiently a company is converting its sales in to
cash. A downward trend is noticed on analyzing the last three years data that shows a
drastic fall down in cash flow margin from 5.18% to 2.74%. The reason for such decline
is increase in operating cash outflow as compared to operating cash inflow and increase
in denominator, net sales (Brigham and Michael, 2013).
 Return on Assets (ROA): This ratio reveals the percentage of net profit realized by the
company over the use of its assets. It indicates the efficiency of the company in using it
resources to realize net profit. This ratio has stated a downward trend over the past three