The Down and Out Co. just issued a dividend of $2.46 per share on its common stock. The company is expected to maintain a constant 4 percent growth rate in its dividends indefinitely. If the stock sells for $30 a share, what is the company's cost of equity? (Do not round your intermediate calculations.)
Hint: In chapter 8 we calculated the stock price as the present value of future dividends. This is a constant growth stock, and you know the price, the last dividend paid, and the growth rate in the dividend. Simply calculate the next dividend to be paid and back-out the required return (discount rate) on the stock.