12-4: At your company, sales and their probabilities are forecast for next year as follows: $300,000 at 25% probability; $400,000 at 50% probability; $500,000 at 25% probability. Fixed annual operating costs are expected at $150,000. Variable operating costs are pegged to operating revenue at 35% of sales. The current capital structure stands at 100% common stock (no preferred shares, no debt) at 30,000 shares and $8 per share book value. The current marketplace points to the following estimated required returns with regard to earnings per share (EPS):

Coefficient of variation of EPS: Required Return:

0.42 14%

0.44 16%

0.45 18%

0.46 21%

0.51 23%

0.60 25%

If the company moves to change its capital structure from common stock to debt, analysts have determined that three possible debt ratios would be feasible:

(1) a debt ratio of 25% at an interest rate of all debt of 8%; (2) a debt ratio of 35% at an interest rate of all debt of 12%; and (3) a debt ratio of 55% at an interest rate of all debt of 15%. The firm's tax rate is 36%.

(A)Compute the required earnings per share (EPS); the standard deviation of EPS; and the coefficient of variation of EPS for each of the three capital structures.

(B)Scenario 1: If the management wants to maximize the earnings per share, identify the best capital structure of the three. Scenario 2: If the management wants to maximize share value, identify the best capital structure of the three.