conducting a financial analysis and making recommendations for a new strategic partner for a real estate development company based on data from the annual reports of two potential partners.

Assignment 1A: Financial Analysis Snapshot and Initial Findings
Due: Week 4 (10% of Final Grade)
Overview
A critical financial accounting skill is the ability to read, analyze, and make actionable decisions from published financial statements. Business leaders gain valuable information from the annual reports of direct competitors, companies that operate in similar fields, and companies in which they are considering an investment or partnership.
Instructions
You are the CFO of a leading real estate development company, Stanton Properties, Inc. Stanton Properties plans to add a new strategic partner in the physical fitness business to its master planned community (MPC) division. Tom Presley, General Manager (GM) of the MPC division, has asked for your assistance in performing a financial analysis and recommend the new physical fitness industry partner. The GM has narrowed the list of potential partners down to two firms, Planet Fitness, Inc. (NYSE: PLNT) and Life Time Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LTH). Both companies use a December fiscal year-end and report their financial statements in thousands of dollars. The analysis period is from 2019 through 2022. Jose Diaz, the CEO, and your boss has specifically asked for a financial analysis of four key areas: Profitability, Short-Term Liquidity, Debt Management, and Cash Flow. You have decided to organize your work into TWO components:
Part A: Financial Analysis Snapshot and Initial Findings using data from the companies’ annual reports (Due: Sunday, midnight of Week 4; worth