6. Constant-growth rates Aa Aa E One of the most important components of stock valuation is a firm's estimated growth rate. Financial statements provide the information needed to estimate the growth rate. Consider this case: Robert Gillman, an equity research analyst at Gillman Advisors, believes in efficient markets. He has been following the mining industry for the past 10 years and needs to determine the constant-growth rate that he should use while valuing Pan Asia Mining Co. Robert has the following information available: Pan Asia Mining Co.'s stock (Ticker: PAMC) is trading at $20.00. The company's stock is expected to pay a year-end dividend of $0.96 that is expected to grow at a certain rate. The stock's expected capital gains yield is 4.80%. Based on this information, Robert's forecast of PAMC's growth rate of earnings and dividends should be: 9.55% O 7.20% 03.98% 4.80% Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between earnings and dividends when all other factors are held constant? Retaining a higher percentage of earnings will result in a higher growth rate. Long-run earnings growth occurs primarily because firms pay dividends to reward their shareholders for investing in the company. Growth in earnings requires growth in dividends. O