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 2/17Chapter 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 2/12

Closed book / closed notes (per syllabus).

Study Guide Solutions (HTML)

Midterm Exam 2 3/31

Closed book / closed notes (per syllabus).

Study Guide Solutions (HTML)

Final Exam 4/30 • 11:30–2:00

Comprehensive final (per syllabus).

Study Guide Solutions (HTML)

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.

Weekly Modules (by chapter)

Module 1 Chapters 1–2 • Financial Markets & Institutions (Silver Tracker) 1/15

Use silver (XAG) to connect markets, interest rates, inflation, and USD strength to asset pricing.

Open Silver Game Open Silver Info Ch 1 Slides Ch 2 Slides

1/15 Class Notes — Ch 1–2 key concepts (click to expand)

Six parts of the financial system

  • Money: 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 (economic efficiency); affect household wealth and firm financing/investment decisions.
  • Financial institutions: Provide access to markets, collect information, and provide services (financial intermediaries move funds from savers to borrowers/investors).
  • Central banks: Monitor financial institutions and stabilize the economy (policy rates, liquidity, payments system).
  • Regulatory agencies: Provide oversight for safety, soundness, and market integrity.

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.

Module 2 Chapter 5 • Time Value of Money

TVM (Ch 5) + practice and homework sets.

Ch 5 Slides TVM Practice Module Page

Module 3 Chapters 3–4 • Financial Statements + Ratios

Financial statement analysis (Ch 3) and ratio analysis (Ch 4).

Ch 3 Slides Ratio Worksheet Module Page

Module 4 Chapters 6–8 • Risk/Return + Bonds + Stocks

Risk & Return (Ch 6) • Bond valuation (Ch 7) • Stock valuation (Ch 8).

Ch 6 Slides Ch 7 Slides Ch 8 Slides Module Page

Module 5 Chapters 9–10 • WACC + Capital Budgeting

Cost of capital (Ch 9) • Capital budgeting (Ch 10) • Review sets.

Ch 9 Slides Capital Budgeting Practice Module Page