Northern Wood Products is an all-equity firm with 17,100 shares of stock outstanding and a total market value of $356,000. Based on its current capital structure, the firm is expected to have earnings before interest and taxes of $28,000 if the economy is normal, $15,600 if the economy is in a recession, and $40,400 if the economy booms. Ignore taxes. Management is considering issuing $89,200 of debt with an interest rate of 6 percent. If the firm issues the debt, the proceeds will be used to repurchase stock. What will the earnings per share be if the debt is issued and the economy is in a recession?

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Multiple Choice

$.60

$1.19

$.80

$1.77

$2.73