“Corporate Finance” by Stephen A. Ross, Randolph W. Westerfield, and Bradford D. Jordan, often referred to as “Ross Westerfield Jordan” or “RWJ,” is a leading textbook in the field of corporate finance. While there isn’t a specific “Meyers” version, there might be confusion arising from different editions or adaptations by instructors using the core RWJ text. Nevertheless, the core principles and content typically remain consistent. If you’re looking for information based on a syllabus that may reference a Meyers edition, consider checking the course details to be sure of which topics are emphasized, such as a specific chapter or problem sets.
The textbook generally covers the core principles of corporate finance, designed for undergraduate and MBA students. It emphasizes practical application, intuition, and decision-making frameworks rather than simply presenting theoretical models. A core premise of the book is to help readers understand not just *what* to do, but *why* it is the right decision.
Key topics typically include:
- Introduction to Corporate Finance: This covers the basic concepts like the financial manager’s role, the goal of maximizing shareholder wealth, and the agency problem.
- Financial Statement Analysis and Cash Flow: Students learn to interpret financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement) and use them to analyze a company’s financial health and performance. Understanding cash flow is crucial.
- Time Value of Money: This fundamental concept, which addresses how the value of money changes over time due to interest or returns, is thoroughly explored. Present value, future value, annuities, and perpetuities are covered.
- Valuation of Stocks and Bonds: This section focuses on how to determine the intrinsic value of financial assets. Discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, including dividend discount models and free cash flow valuation, is a central theme. Bond valuation covers yield to maturity and various bond features.
- Capital Budgeting: This important area deals with how companies decide which projects to invest in. Techniques like Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Payback Period are discussed and compared.
- Risk and Return: The book examines the relationship between risk and return in financial markets. Concepts like diversification, the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), and beta are explained.
- Cost of Capital: Understanding a company’s cost of capital (the required rate of return on its investments) is essential for making investment decisions. The textbook explains how to calculate the cost of equity, cost of debt, and weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
- Capital Structure: This involves decisions about how a company finances its operations, including the optimal mix of debt and equity. The Modigliani-Miller theorems and trade-off theory are discussed.
- Dividend Policy: This covers how companies decide how much of their earnings to pay out as dividends versus reinvesting in the business.
- Working Capital Management: This focuses on the management of short-term assets and liabilities, such as inventory, accounts receivable, and accounts payable.
RWJ’s “Corporate Finance” is known for its clear writing style, real-world examples, and problem sets that allow students to apply the concepts they have learned. Its comprehensive coverage makes it a popular choice for both introductory and more advanced courses in corporate finance.