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Encore International

In the world of trendsetting fashion, instinct and marketing savvy are prerequisites to success. Jordan Ellis had both. During 2019, his international casual-wear company, Encore, rocketed to $300 million in sales after 10 years in business. His fashion line covered young women from head to toe with hats, sweaters, dresses, blouses, skirts, pants, sweatshirts, socks, and shoes. In Manhattan, an Encore shop was found every five or six blocks, each featuring a different color. Some shops showed the entire line in lapis blue, and others featured it in grenadine.

Encore had made it. The companys historical growth was so spectacular that no one could have predicted it. However, securities analysts speculated that Encore could not keep up the pace. They warned that competition is fierce in the fashion industry and that the firm might encounter little or no growth in the future. They estimated that stockholders also should expect no growth in future dividends.

Contrary to the conservative securities analysts, Jordan Ellis believed that the company could maintain a constant annual growth rate in dividends per share of 6% in the future, or possibly 8% for the next 2 years and 6% thereafter. Ellis based his estimates on an established long-term expansion plan into European and Latin American markets. Venturing into these markets was expected to cause the risk of the firm, as measured by the risk premium on its stock, to increase immediately from 8.8% to 10%. Currently, the risk-free rate is 6%.

In preparing the long-term financial plan, Encores chief financial officer has assigned a junior financial analyst, Marc Scott, to evaluate the firms current stock price. He has asked Marc to consider the conservative predictions of the securities analysts and the aggressive predictions of the company founder, Jordan Ellis.

Marc has compiled the following 2019 financial data to aid his analysis.

Data item	2019 value
Earnings per share (EPS)	$6.25
Price per share of common stock	$40.00
Book value of common stock equity	$60,000,000
Total common shares outstanding	2,500,000
Common stock dividend per share	$4.00

To Do:

1. What is the firms current book value per share?

2. What is the firms current P/E ratio?

3. 1. (1)What is the current required return for Encore stock?

   2. What will be the new required return for Encore stock, assuming that the firm expands into European and Latin American markets as planned?

4. If the securities analysts are correct and there is no growth in future dividends, what will be the value per share of the Encore stock? (Note: Use the new required return on the companys stock here.)

5. 1. (1)If Jordan Elliss predictions are correct, what will be the value per share of Encore stock if the firm maintains a constant annual 6% growth rate in future dividends? (Note: Continue to use the new required return here.)

   2. If Jordan Elliss predictions are correct, what will be the value per share of Encore stock if the firm maintains a constant annual 8% growth rate in dividends per share over the next 2 years and 6% thereafter?

6. Compare the current (2019) price of the stock and the stock values found in parts a, d, and e. Discuss why these values may differ. Which valuation method do you believe most clearly represents the true value of the Encore stock?