Valuing the Equity of a Stable-Growth Firm

The Emerson Electric Company (EMR) was founded in 1890 and is located in St. Louis Missouri. The firm provides product technologies and engineering service for industrial, commercial, and consumer markets worldwide. The firm operates in five business segments: process management, industrial automation, network power, climate technologies, and appliance and tools.

The company has a lengthy history of dividend payments and steady growth. In recent years, the firms dividend payout has averaged 40% of earnings. For 2007, firm earnings were estimated to be $5.69 a share, and on December 7, 2006, Emersons shares were trading for $86.01, which represents a price-earnings ratio of 19.276. Data for the industry, sector, Emerson, and four competitor firms are shown on the chart found after the problems.

1. Is Emersons current stock price reasonable in light of its sector, industry, and comparison firms?

2. Emersons beta coefficient is 1.27. Assuming a risk-free rate of 5.02% and a market risk premium of 5%, what is your estimate of the required rate of return for Emersons stock using the CAPM? What rate of growth in earnings is consistent with Emersons policy of paying out 40% of earnings in dividends and the firms historical return on equity? Using your estimated growth rate, what is the value of Emersons shares using the Gordon growth model? Analyze the reasonableness of your estimated value per share using the Gordon model.