=3. Stolid, Inc., is a no-growth company expected to pay a $10-pershare annual dividend into the distant future. Its cost of equity capital is 14 percent. The new president abhors the no-growth image and proposes to halve next year's dividend to $5 per share and use the savings to acquire another firm. The president maintains that this strategy will boost sales, earnings, and assets. Moreover, he is confident that after acquisition, dividends in year 2 and beyond can be increased to $10.45 per share.