Final answer:
The ultimate financial goal of a firm is to maximise shareholders' wealth by increasing the company's market value and providing higher returns on investments, aligning with the interests of the shareholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The long-term financial goal of any firm is fundamentally to maximise shareholders' wealth. This involves increasing the overall value of the company through revenue growth, profit maximisation, and efficient allocation of resources. This goal is in line with the principles of financial management aimed at increasing stock prices, which benefits shareholders by providing them with higher returns on their investments. There are multiple ways to achieve this, including optimizing company operations, investing in profitable projects, and making strategic financial decisions to enhance the firm's profitability and sustainability.
When a firm achieves substantial and consistent financial growth, shareholders' wealth is maximized as the market value of the company's shares increases. This, in turn, reflects positively on the firm's financial performance and its attractiveness to new investors. Hence, the most appropriate choice among the given options is (c) maximise shareholders wealth.