Problem:
The following tabulation gives earnings per share figures for the Knerr Company during the preceding 10 years. The firm’s common stock, 7.8 million shares outstanding, is now (1/1/2003) selling for $65 per share and the expected dividend at the end of the current year (2003) is 55 percent of the 2002 EPS. Because investors expect past trends to continue, g may be based on the earnings growth rate. (Note that 9 years of growth are reflected in the data.)
YEAR EPS
1993 $3.90
1994 $4.21
1995 $4.55
1996 $4.91
1997 $5.31
1998 $5.73
1999 $6.19
2000 $6.68
2001 $7.22
2002 $7.80
The current interest rate on new debt is 9 percent. The firm’s marginal tax rate is 40 percent. Its capital structure, considered to be optimal, is as follows:
Debt $104,000,000
Common equity $156,000,000
Total liabilities and equity $260,000,000
Q1. Calculate Knerr’s after-tax cost of new debt and common equity. Calculate the cost of equity as ks = D1/P0 +g.
Q2. Find Knerr’s weighted average cost of capital.