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Janet Coleman, a CFA Institute member, is an analyst at a regional brokerage firm. She is preparing a research report on Standard Power and Light. Due to deregulation, utility companies face increased competition. During the past year, three of the five utility companies in her region have cut their dividends by 50%, on average, to provide more internal funds for investment purposes. In a discussion with Standard's chief executive officer, Coleman learned that Standard expects to have a record amount of capital expenditures during the next year. Although Standard subsequently issued a press release about its capital expenditure plans, it did not make any public statements about a change in dividend policy. Coleman reasons that the management of Standard will be under pressure to cut its dividends within the next year to remain competitive. Coleman issues a research report in which she states:
"We expect Standard Power and Light will experience an initial decrease of $3 a share in its stock price when it cuts its dividend from $2 to $1 a share by the second quarter. We expect that Standard will strengthen its competitive position by using more internally generated funds to finance its investment opportunities. If investors buy the stock now at around $50 a share, their total return should be at least 20% on the stock."
Based on CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, which of the following statements about Coleman's actions is CORRECT?

A) Coleman violated the Standards because she used material inside information.

B) Coleman violated the Standards because she failed to separate opinion from fact in her research report.

C) Coleman did not violate the Standards.

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Coleman's statement that Standard will cut its dividend from $2 to $1 a share is an opinion, not a fact. She should distinguish between facts and opinions in research reports.

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An analyst who routinely purges the files that support his research and recommendations:

A) is acting in accordance to Standard III(E), Preservation of Confidentiality.

B) may be violating Standard V(C), Record Retention.

C) is acting in accordance to Standard IV(A), Loyalty to Employer.

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According to Standard V(C), a member shall “maintain appropriate records” to support recommendations. Neither of the other choices would apply to this action.

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Rhonda Meyer, CFA, is preparing a research report on Moon Ventures, Inc.  In the course of her research she learns the following:

• Moon had its credit rating downgraded by a prominent rating agency 3 years ago due to sales pressure in the industry.  The rating was restored 3 months later when the pressure resolved.
• Moon’s insider trading has been substantial over the last 3 months.  Holdings of Moon shares by officers, directors, and key employees were reduced by 50% during that period.

In Meyer’s detailed report making a buy recommendation for Moon, both the credit rating downgrade and the insider trading were omitted from the report.
Meyer has:

A) violated the Code and Standards by not including the insider trading information and by not including the credit rating downgrade in her report.

B) not violated the Code and Standards in her report.

C) violated the Code and Standards by not including the insider trading information in her report.

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Standard V(B), Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients, requires analysts to use reasonable judgment regarding the inclusion or exclusion of relevant factors in their research reports. It would not be unreasonable to exclude the temporary credit downgrade from 3 years earlier.

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In preparing research reports, which of the following is least likely required or recommended by the Code and Standards?

A) Send all reports to the firm's legal counsel to ensure compliance with securities laws.

B) Maintain copies of materials that were relied on in preparing the research report.

C) Attribute paraphrases and summaries of material prepared by others.

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Members do not need to send all reports to the firm’s legal counsel to ensure compliance with securities laws.

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Joni Black, CFA, works for a portfolio management firm. Black is a partner of the firm and is primarily responsible for managing several large pension plans. Black has just finished a research report in which she recommends Zeta Corporation as a “Strong Buy.” Her rating is based on solid management in a growing and expanding industry. She just handed the report to the marketing department of the firm for immediate dissemination. Upon returning to her desk she notices a news flash by CNN reporting that management for Zeta Corporation is retiring. Black wishes she did not recommend Zeta Corporation as a “Strong Buy,” but believes the corporation is still a good investment regardless of the management. What course of action for Black is best? Black:

A) may send out the report as written as long as a follow up is disseminated within a reasonable amount of time reflecting the changes in management.

B) should revise the recommendation based on this new information.

C) should report the new information to her immediate supervisor so that they can determine whether or not the marketing department should send out the report as written.

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This question is related to Standard V(B) which states that CFA Institute members should use reasonable judgment regarding the inclusion or exclusion of relevant factors in research reports. The change in management was a relevant factor and must be disclosed before dissemination.

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In the preparation of a research report, a CFA Institute member may emphasize certain matters, touch briefly on others, and omit some altogether:

A) provided that the analyst has a reasonable basis for his or her actions.

B) provided that the analyst both has a reasonable basis and is unconstrained by the Mosaic theory.

C) under no circumstances.

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According to Standard V(B), the analyst must use reasonable judgment in identifying relevant factors when communicating with clients and prospects . The Mosaic theory does not apply here.

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An analyst has several groups of clients who are categorized according to their specific needs. Compared to research reports distributed to all of the clients, reports for a specific group:

A) may generally exclude more basic facts.

B) will not be allowed because it violates the Standard III(B), Fair Dealing.

C) will definitely include more basic facts.

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According to Standard V(B), an analyst can use reasonable judgment regarding the exclusion of some facts and should include more basic facts for reports to wider audiences. The key issue is that analysts should tailor their reports to the intended audience.

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Bob Hatfield, CFA, has his own money management firm with two clients. The accounts of the two clients are equal in value. It is Hatfield’s opinion that interest rates will fall in the near future. Based upon this, Hatfield begins increasing the bond allocation of each portfolio. In order to comply with Standard V(B), Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients, the analyst needs to:

A) make sure that the change is identical for both clients.

B) perform both of these functions.

C) inform the clients of the change and tell them it is based upon an opinion and not a fact.

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According to Standard V(B), the analyst must inform the clients of the change and tell them it is based upon an opinion and not a fact. Making an identical change in two portfolios may be a violation of this standard if the needs of the clients are not identical.

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An analyst finds a stock that has had a low beta given its historical return, but its total risk has been commensurate with its return. When writing a research report about the stock for clients with well-diversified portfolios, according to Standard V(B), Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients, the analyst needs to mention:

A) both the historical beta and total risk and return.

B) the relationship of the historical total risk to return only.

C) the relationship of the historical beta and return only.

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Using reasonable judgment, an analyst may exclude certain factors from research reports. Since the report will be delivered to clients with well-diversified portfolios, total risk is not as important as beta. Given that the total risk has been only commensurate with historical return, furthermore, then the analyst is not negligent by not mentioning it.

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Roger Halpert, CFA, prepares a company research report in which he recommends a strong "buy." He has been careful to ensure that his report complies with the CFA Institute Standard on research reports. According to CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, which of the following statements about how Halpert can communicate the report is most correct?

A) Halpert can transmit his report by computer on the Internet.

B) Halpert can make his report in person, by telephone, or by computer on the Internet.

C) Halpert can make his report in person.

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A report can be made via any means of communication, including in-person recommendation, telephone conversation, media broadcast, and transmission by computer such as on the Internet.