FIN301 • Course Hub Spring 2026

Central hub for FIN301 Corporate Finance.  |  Prior semester website: FIN301 Spring 2025
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Course Basics & Links

Meeting: SIJU137 • TR 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM  |  Section: FIN 301 104Z (26SPRG)  |  Instructor: Maggie Foley (mfoley3@ju.edu) • DCOBT 118A • Office Hours T/TR 3:30–5:00 PM

Syllabus (On-Page)

Meeting Information

Course: FIN 301 104Z • Corporate Finance

When/Where: TR 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM • SIJU137

Instructor: Maggie Foley (mfoley3@ju.edu)

Office: DCOBT 118A

Office Hours: T/TR 3:30–5:00 PM

Phone: 904-256-7772

Required Textbook

Foundations of Finance (10th ed.)

Keown, Martin & Petty • Pearson

ISBN-13: 978-0134897264

Purchase options: JU Bookstore Course Finder

Exam Dates (from syllabus)

  • Midterm 1: Thu, 2/12
  • Midterm 2: Tue, 3/31
  • Final (comprehensive): Thu, 4/30 (11:30 AM – 2:00 PM)

See “Exams & Solutions” below for study guides & posted solutions.

Grading (official weights) (click to expand)
ComponentWeight
Midterm Exams (2 total)40%
Final Exam (Comprehensive)30%
Quizzes15%
Homework15%
Total100%

Attendance is checked via the end-of-class quiz (per syllabus).

Course focus & outcomes (short) (click to expand)
  • Topics: time value of money; risk & return; valuation of debt/equity; capital budgeting; cost of capital; financial analysis.
  • Outcomes: apply TVM methods; value debt/equity using critical thinking and business tools; evaluate capital budgeting projects.
  • Format: lecture integrated with student presentations/discussions; participation expected.

Weekly Schedule (from syllabus)

▶ Schedule (click to collapse)
Date Topic / Activity Notes
Tue 1/13Course Introduction
Thu 1/15Chapters 1–2: Financial Markets and Institutions
Tue 1/20Chapter 5: Time Value of Money (Part I)
Thu 1/22Chapter 5: Time Value of Money (Part II)
Tue 1/27Chapter 5: Time Value of Money (Part III)
Thu 1/29Homework: Chapter 5 Q&A; Chapter 3: Financial Statement Analysis (Part I)
Tue 2/3Chapter 3: Financial Statement Analysis (Part II)
Thu 2/5Chapter 4: Ratio Analysis; Homework: Chapters 3–4 Q&A
Tue 2/10Review: Chapters 5, 3, 4
Thu 2/12Midterm Exam 1
Tue 2/24Chapter 6: Risk and Return (Part I)
Thu 2/19Chapter 6: Risk and Return (Part II)
Tue 2/24Chapter 6: Risk and Return (Part III)
Thu 2/26Homework: Chapter 6 Q&A
Tue 3/3Chapter 7: Bond Valuation (Part I)
Thu 3/5Chapter 7: Bond Valuation (Part II); Homework: Chapter 7 Q&A
Tue 3/10Chapter 8: Stock Valuation (Part I)
Thu 3/12Chapter 8: Stock Valuation (Part II)
3/17–3/21Spring Break (No Class)No class meetings
Tue 3/24Homework: Chapter 8 Q&A
Thu 3/26Review: Chapters 6, 7, 8
Tue 3/31Midterm Exam 2
Thu 4/2Chapter 9: WACC (Part I)
Tue 4/7Chapter 9: WACC (Part II)
Thu 4/9Chapter 10: Capital Budgeting (Part I)
Tue 4/14Chapter 10: Capital Budgeting (Part II)
Thu 4/16Chapter 10: Capital Budgeting (Part III)
Tue 4/21Homework: Chapter 10
Thu 4/23Final Exam Review
Thu 4/30Final Exam (11:30 AM – 2:00 PM)

Note: the syllabus states the schedule is subject to change; keep the PDF as the authoritative version.

Exams & Solutions

Post study guides before each exam; post solutions after the exam.

Midterm Exam 1 2/24

Midterm Exam 1 — Tue 2/24 (in classroom)
Covers: Chapters 3–5  •  30 True/False (closed book / closed notes)  •  15 calculator questions
BE READY
✨ Ch 3–4 Study Guide (Word) → ✨ Ch 5 Study Guide (Word) → Exam 1 - Solutions (HTML) (coming soon)

Arrive on time and plan to use the full class period.

Midterm Exam 2 3/31

Closed book / closed notes (per syllabus).

Study Guide (coming soon) Solutions (HTML) (coming soon)

Final Exam 4/30 • 11:30–2:00

Comprehensive final (per syllabus).

Study Guide (coming soon) Solutions (HTML) (coming soon)

Trading Game Tools (FINVIZ + MarketWatch)

Use these for the class MarketWatch game. Open an app, pick candidates in Finviz, then size the trade properly.

Featured Video

MarketWatch game walkthrough

Short-Only Scanner (App)

Daily shorts with presets, risk tool, checklist.

Open Short App

Long-Only Position Builder (App)

Fundamentals + technical entries, sector mix planner.

Open Long App

MarketWatch Game Website

Create/join your class game (Virtual Stock Exchange).

Open MarketWatch Games

FINVIZ Screener

Run scans, then use the apps above for sizing & diversification.

Open FINVIZ

How to Win the MarketWatch Game

  • Risk 1% per trade (use the app calculator). Journal each trade.
  • Diversify (cap ≈ 25% per sector). Avoid crowding one theme.
  • Entries: Long—buy dips in uptrends; Short—fade weak bounces.
  • News check: Don’t short fresh strong catalysts; ride positive drift on longs.
  • Protect winners: Take partials; trail stops near support/resistance.

Class Game Room

Game - FIN301 Spring 2026 (Live) (password: havefun)

Use the password exactly as shown.

Ch 1–2 Financial Markets & Institutions 1/15

Chapters 1–2: the financial system, markets & institutions, instruments, intermediaries, and core finance principles.

Ch 1 Slides ▸ Ch 2 Slides ▸

Silver Price Forecast Game — Student IDs Only (click to expand)

Target date: 4/15/26. Guess the silver spot price ($/oz) on that date. The closest guess earns +5 extra points. Posted as Student ID only (no names). If there is a tie, all tied students receive the extra points.

Open Silver Game Open Silver Info

Student IDGuess ($/oz)
01225
0294
0394
04100–120
0590–98
06131
07117
08125
09100
1080
1195–110
1265–100
13120
14123
1595–150
16111
17200

Ranges are allowed; winner is the closest submission to the posted 4/15/26 spot price.

Class Notes (collapse) — Chapters 1–2

1) Six parts of the financial system

  • Money
    • To pay for purchases and store wealth (fiat money, fiat currency).
  • Financial Instruments
    • Transfer resources from savers to investors and transfer risk to those best equipped to bear it.
  • Financial Markets
    • Buy and sell financial instruments.
    • Channel funds from savers to investors, thereby promoting economic efficiency.
    • Affect personal wealth and the behavior/decisions of business firms.
  • Financial Institutions
    • Provide access to financial markets, collect information, and provide services.
    • Financial intermediary: helps move funds from savers to investors.
  • Central Banks
    • Monitor financial institutions and stabilize the economy.
  • Regulatory Agencies
    • Provide oversight for the financial system.

2) Five core principles of finance

  1. Time has value.
  2. Risk requires compensation.
  3. Information is the basis for decisions.
  4. Markets determine prices and allocate resources.
  5. Stability improves welfare.

Ch 5 Time Value of Money 1/20 & 1/22 & 1/27

PV/FV, annuities, perpetuities, EAR/APR, and timeline setup.

Ch 5 Slides ▸ TVM Calculator NPV/NFV Calculator EAR (Effective Rate) APR (Nominal Rate) Chapter Page →

Class Notes (click to expand)

1) The idea

  • Time has value: a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.
  • Compounding moves money forward; discounting moves money back.
  • Match units: if the rate is monthly, then n is months and cash flows are monthly.

2) Single cash flow formulas

  • FV: FV = PV(1+r)^n
  • PV: PV = FV/(1+r)^n
  • n: n = ln(FV/PV)/ln(1+r)
  • r: r = (FV/PV)^(1/n) − 1

3) Annuities (equal payments)

  • Ordinary annuity (payments at end): Excel type=0
  • Annuity due (payments at beginning): Excel type=1
  • Key Excel: PMT, PV, FV, NPER, RATE

4) Excel TVM functions (ABS if you want positive answers)

GoalExcelTypical inputs
Future value =ABS(FV(rate,nper,pmt,pv,[type])) rate, nper, pmt, pv
Present value =ABS(PV(rate,nper,pmt,fv,[type])) rate, nper, pmt, fv
Payment =ABS(PMT(rate,nper,pv,fv,[type])) rate, nper, pv, fv
Rate =RATE(nper,pmt,pv,fv,[type]) nper, pmt, pv, fv
Number of periods =NPER(rate,pmt,pv,fv,[type]) rate, pmt, pv, fv
Sign rule: Excel treats money you pay out as negative and money you receive as positive. If your answer shows up negative, your signs are probably inconsistent (or use ABS() for presentation).

5) APR vs EAR

  • APR is nominal annual rate. Monthly periodic rate is APR/12.
  • EAR includes compounding: EAR = (1+APR/m)^m − 1.
  • Excel: =EFFECT(APR,m) and =NOMINAL(EAR,m)

6) NPV / NFV quick rule

  • NPV() assumes the first cash flow is at t=1. If there is a time-0 cash flow, add it separately.
  • Example: =-100 + NPV(0.10,40,40,40)
  • NFV: compute PV first, then compound: FV(rate,n,0,-PV,0)
Common mistakes: (1) Using APR as the periodic rate, (2) mixing months/years, (3) forgetting type=1 for annuity due, (4) putting time-0 cash flow inside NPV().

Ch 3–4 Lab • Financial Statements + Ratios (One Lab for Both Chapters)

This lab combines Chapter 3 (IS/BS/CF) + Chapter 4 (ratio analysis). Bring your calculator and be ready to build the statements first, then compute ratios.

Open Ch 3–4 Lab BS Template IS Template CF Template Ratio Tool In-class lab Ch 3 + Ch 4

Ch 3 Financial Statement Analysis

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement; free cash flow basics.

Ch 3 Slides ▸ Balance Sheet Template Income Statement Template Cash Flow Template Chapter Page →

Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 3 notes here (e.g., FCF definition and uses, EDGAR reminder).

Ch 4 Ratio Analysis

2/7

Liquidity, leverage, efficiency, profitability, and market ratios.

Ch 4 Slides ▸ Ratio Tool (Calculator) Chapter Page →
Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 4 notes here.

Ch 6 Risk & Return

Expected return, volatility, diversification, CAPM and beta interpretation.

Ch 6 Slides ▸ Chapter Page →

Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 6 notes here.

Ch 7 Bond Valuation

Bond pricing, yield to maturity, interest-rate risk, and market yields.

Ch 7 Slides ▸ Chapter Page →

Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 7 notes here.

Ch 8 Stock Valuation

Dividend discount model, growth assumptions, and valuation drivers.

Ch 8 Slides ▸ Chapter Page →

Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 8 notes here.

Capital Budgeting

WACC Project Selection NPV / IRR

Ch 9 WACC (Weighted Average Cost of Capital)

Weights, cost of debt (after-tax), cost of equity (DDM or CAPM), flotation costs.

Ch 9 Slides ▸ WACC Game WACC Calculator (Annual) WACC Calculator (Semi-annual) Chapter Page →

Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 9 notes here (IBM example, formulas, Excel RATE usage, CAPM option, etc.).

Ch 10 Capital Budgeting

Payback, NPV, IRR; mutually exclusive vs. independent; crossover rate intuition.

Ch 10 Slides ▸ Capital Budgeting Game NPV/IRR/Payback Calculator Excel Template Chapter Page →

Class Notes (collapse)

Paste Chapter 10 notes here (in-class exercises, homework list, solution keys, etc.).

Disclaimer: All materials are developed and provided independently via jufinance.com. Feedback and suggestions are welcome.