Financial Analysis of Oracle Corp

Financial Analysis of Oracle Corp

INTRODUCTION

Background and History

Oracle Corporation is a technology company that supplies software for the use of information management. They develop, manufacture, market and distribute computer software that helps other corporations manage their data so they can better grow and prosper.

In 1977, Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, and Ed Oates founded System Development Laboratories. After being inspired by a research paper written in 1970 by an IBM researcher titled “A Relational Model of Data for Large Shared Data Banks” they decided to build a new type of database called a relational database system. The original project on the relational database system was for the government (Central Intelligence Agency) and was dubbed ‘Oracle.’ They thought this would be appropriate because the meaning of Oracle is source of wisdom.

In 1978, Software Development laboratories moved from their offices in Santa Clara to ones in Menlo Park, the heart of the Silicon Valley. To better explain what they did, they changed their name to Relational Software Inc., or RSI.

In 1979, RSI developed and distributed its first commercial SQL database V2, there was no version 1. In 1982, RSI changed its name to Oracle Systems Corporation, which later changed again to Oracle Corporation. They reasoning behind this was that they thought by naming the company after the product it would help the company obtain more recognition.

In 1983, Oracle decided to make the Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) portable. They then introduce V3, the first portable database to run on Personal Computers, minicomputers and mainframes.

In 1984, Oracle Corporation’s revenues reach $12.7 million and they move into a new eighty-four thousand square foot building in Belmont, CA. They also went international by working with companies in Canada, Netherlands, and a limited portion in the United Kingdom.

In 1985 they hit $23 million in revenues and expanded to Austria, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland. Their Initial Public Offering was on March 12, 1986, the same year their revenues reached $55 million. The stock opened at a price of $15 and closed at $20.75. Oracle Corporation expanded to Australia, Finland, France, Hong Kong (limited), Norway, and Spain.

In 1987, Oracle’s revenues were $131 million, as ...

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...rs, setting a good trend for the corporation. They also have a very low debt-to-equity ratio, indicating that they have enough equity to easily pay off any funds acquired from creditors. As a creditor I would feel safe in lending them funds for any future projects or endeavors.

Bibliography:

WORKS CITED

Oracle Corporation 2000a. Investor Relation – Corporate History. 20 July.

Internet: http://www.oracle.com/corporate/.

Oracle Corporation 2000b. Investor Relations – Financials. 21 July. Internet:

http://ww.oracle.com/corporate/.

Oracle Corporation 2000c. 1999 Annual Report – Introduction. 21 July. Internet:

http://www.oracle.com/corporate/annual_report/99/index.html.

Oracle Corporation 2000d. Financial Highlights. 22 July. Internet:

http://www.oracle.com/corporate/annual_report/99/financial/index.html?finhgh99.html.

Moyer, Charles R., and McGuigan, James R., and Kretlow, William J. 1998.

Contemporary Financial Management. South-Western College Publishing:

Cincinnati, Ohio, 64-106.

America Online, Inc. 2000. Personal Finance – Investment Research. 30 July.

http://research.web.aol.com/index.adp?T1=orcl&item=4.