Stats

For the first part of project 1 you will need to do the following:

1. Download the file SP500.xlsx
2. Open the SP500.xlsx Excel file.
3. Save the Sp500.xlsx file as a comma separated variable (.csv) file. (Use Save As not the Save command)
4. Close the SP500.csv
5. Open the SP500.csv file and save it as an Excel file (.xlsx) using the name "LastNameFirstNameProject.xlsx" where you use your first and last name as part of the file name. The SP500.xlsx uses a random random number generator. Saving the file as a comma separated file will convert the random numbers into fixed numbers that will not change as you use the file.
6. You are going to use 36 randomly chosen stocks from the Standard and Poors stock index.
7. Go to www.google.com/finance and look up the annual Diluted Normalized Earnings per share for 2015 and 2016.
   • Search on the ticker for each company in your list.
   • Click on the Financials link.
   • Switch from Quarterly Data to Annual Data.
   • The bottom line on the financials sheet should list the Diluted Normalized Earnings per share.
8. Using the dataset, use Excel with MegaStat to compute appropriate descriptive statistics and create graphs for the EPS 2015 and EPS 2016 data sets. Save the file as an Excel spreadsheet. Paste your descriptive results and graphs into a Word file (LastNameFirstNameProject.docx). Without using statistical jargon describe the EPS data set for the years 2015 and 2016 separately. The descriptions should be placed in to your Word file. Do not quote me the mean, standard deviation, and quartiles. But use everyday English language to describe each sample. Tell me how the earnings per share are similar, if they are. Tell me how the earnings per share differ. Since you are forbidden to use jargon, I suggest you use language that your parents or grand parents might understand.
9. Perform a formal statistical analysis in Excel using MegaStat to determine if the Earning per share increase from 2015 to 2016. Save your results to the Excel file. Paste the results into your Word file. Describe in plain English the results of your Statistical Analysis. On the basis of your analysis, was it a good year for Large Cap companies?

Rubric

• 25 points for looking up the for the data and entering it in to Excel.
• 25 points for describing the data without using Jargon.
• 25 points for conducting the appropriate statistical analysis using MegaStat.
• 25 points for describing the analysis appropriately using no statistical jargon.