Cost of Capital Homework Problems

3 part Question on Cost of Capital

Q1.1As a financial analyst for National Engineering, you are required to estimate the cost of capital the firm should use in evaluating its heavy construction projects.The firms balance sheet data and other information are listed below. Assume a 35% corporate tax rate.

a.What is your estimate?What assumptions must you make to calculate this estimate?

b.What qualifications to this estimate should you mention in your report when National applies this rate to its various projects?

Selected Balance Sheet Items

Bonds (see market data)

Preferred stock$400,000

Common Stock$800,000

Retained Earnings$2,000,000

Market Data

Market ValueYield

Bonds:

8%, 10-year$250,00012%

12%, 15-year$1,000,00015%

21%, 1-year$250,00011%

Common stock:

Average dividend growth (5 years) = 10%

Current Dividend Yield = 7%

Price = $47.25

Shares = 100,000

Preferred stock:

$4.50 preferred dividend

Price = $22.50

Shares = 20,000

Q 1.2.Given the following information for Columbia Power Co., find the WACC.Assume the companys tax rate is 35%.

Debt:3000 8% coupon bonds outstanding, $1000 par value, ten years to maturity, selling for 101% of par; the bonds make semiannual interest payments

Common Stock:50,000 shares outstanding selling for $62 per share; the beta is 1.10

Preferred Stock:10,000 shares of 4% preferred stock outstanding, $100 par value, currently selling for $60 per share

Market:5% market risk premium and 6% risk-free rate

Q1.3.Independence Mining Corporation has 7 million shares of common stock outstanding, 1million shares of 6% preferred stock outstanding, and 100,000 9% semiannual bonds outstanding, par value $1000 each.The common stock currently sells for $35 per share and has a beta of 1.0, the preferred stock currently sells for $60 per share, and the bonds have 15 years to maturity and sell for 89% of par.The market risk premium is 8%, T-bills are yielding 7%, and Independence Minings tax rate is 34%.

a.What is the firms market value capital structure?

b.If Independence Mining is evaluating a new investment project that has the same risk as the firms typical project, what rate should the firm use to discount the projects cash flows?