Fin 404 - Quiz 4

11. Operating plans sketch out broad approaches for realization of the firm's strategic vision. These plans usually are developed for a period no longer than a 1-year time horizon because detail is "lost" by extending out the time horizon by more than 1 year. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

14. A firm's profit margin is 5%, its debt/assets ratio is 56%, and its dividend payout ratio is 40%. If the firm is operating at less than full capacity, then sales could increase to some extent without the need for external funds, but if it is operating at full capacity with respect to all assets, including fixed assets, then any positive growth in sales will require some external financing. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

15. Companies with relatively high assets-to-sales ratios require a relatively large amount of new assets for any given increase in sales; hence, they have a greater need for external financing. There are currently no alternatives for these types of firms to lower their asset requirements. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

18. If a firm's capital intensity ratio (A0*/S0) decreases as sales increase, use of the AFN formula is likely to understate the amount of additional funds required, other things held constant. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

19. The minimum growth rate that a firm can achieve with no access to external capital is called the firm's sustainable growth rate. It can be calculated by using the AFN equation with AFN equal to zero and solving for g. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

20. The fact that long-term debt and common stock are raised infrequently and in large amounts lessens the need for the firm to forecast those accounts on a continual basis. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

7. If a firm wants to maintain its ratios at their existing levels, then if it has a positive sales growth rate of any amount, it will require some amount of external funding. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

8. To determine the amount of additional funds needed (AFN), you may subtract the expected increase in liabilities, which represents a source of funds, from the sum of the expected increases in retained earnings and assets, both of which are uses of funds. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

Firms pay a low interest rate on spontaneous liabilities so these funds are its cheapest source of capital. Consequently, the firm should make arrangements with its suppliers to use as much of this credit as possible. a. True b. False

ANSWER: False

10. One of the first steps in arriving at a firm's forecasted financial statements is a review of industry-average operating ratios relative to these same ratios for the firm to determine whether changes to the ratios need to be made. a. True

ANSWER: True

12. One of the necessary steps in the financial planning process is a forecast of financial statements under each alternative version of the operating plan in order to analyze the effects of different operating procedures on projected profits and financial ratios. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

13. If a firm with a positive net worth is operating its fixed assets at full capacity, if its dividend payout ratio is 100%, and if it wants to hold all financial ratios constant, then for any positive growth rate in sales, it will require external financing. a. True

ANSWER: True

16. Firms with high capital intensity ratios have found ways to lower this ratio permitting them to achieve a given level of growth with fewer assets and consequently less external capital. For example, just-in-time inventory systems, multiple shifts for labor, and outsourcing production are all feasible ways for firms to reduce their capital intensity ratios. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

17. Two firms with identical capital intensity ratios are generating the same amount of sales. However, Firm A is operating at full capacity, while Firm B is operating below capacity. If the two firms expect the same growth in sales during the next period, then Firm A is likely to need more additional funds than Firm B, other things held constant. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

21. The AFN equation assumes that the ratios of assets and liabilities to sales remain constant over time. However, this assumption can be relaxed when we use the forecasted financial statement method. Three conditions where constant ratios cannot be assumed are economies of scale, lumpy assets, and excess capacity. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

4. As long as a firm does not pay out 100% of its earnings, the firm's annual profit that is retained in the business (i.e., the addition to retained earnings) is another source of funds for a firm's expansion. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

5. A rapid build-up of inventories normally requires additional financing, unless the increase is matched by an equally large decrease in some other asset. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

6. A firm's AFN must come from external sources. Typical sources include short-term bank loans, long-term bonds, preferred stock, and common stock. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

9. The capital intensity ratio is the amount of assets required per dollar of sales and it has a major impact on a firm's capital requirements. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

A firm will use spontaneous funds to the extent possible; however, due to credit terms, contracts with workers, and tax laws there is little flexibility in their usage. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

As a firm's sales grow, its current assets also tend to increase. For instance, as sales increase, the firm's inventories generally increase, and purchases of inventories result in more accounts payable. Thus, spontaneous liabilities that reduce AFN arise from transactions brought on by sales increases. a. True b. False

ANSWER: True

22. Which of the following assumptions is embodied in the AFN equation? a. Accounts payable and accruals are tied directly to sales. b. Common stock and long-term debt are tied directly to sales. c. Fixed assets, but not current assets, are tied directly to sales. d. Last year's total assets were not optimal for last year's sales. e. None of the firm's ratios will change.

ANSWER: a

24. The term "additional funds needed (AFN)" is generally defined as follows: a. Funds that a firm must raise externally from non-spontaneous sources, i.e., by borrowing or by selling new stock to support operations. b. The amount of assets required per dollar of sales. c. The amount of internally generated cash in a given year minus the amount of cash needed to acquire the new assets needed to support growth. d. A forecasting approach in which the forecasted percentage of sales for each balance sheet account is held constant. e. Funds that are obtained automatically from routine business transactions.

ANSWER: a

28. A company expects sales to increase during the coming year, and it is using the AFN equation to forecast the additional capital that it must raise. Which of the following conditions would cause the AFN to increase? a. The company increases its dividend payout ratio. b. The company begins to pay employees monthly rather than weekly. c. The company's profit margin increases. d. The company decides to stop taking discounts on purchased materials. e. The company previously thought its fixed assets were being operated at full capacity, but now it learns that it actually has excess capacity.

ANSWER: a

29. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? a. The first, and perhaps the most critical, step in forecasting financial requirements is to forecast future sales. b. Forecasted financial statements, as discussed in the text, are used primarily as a part of the managerial compensation program, where management's historical performance is evaluated. c. The capital intensity ratio gives us an idea of the physical condition of the firm's fixed assets. d. The AFN equation produces more accurate forecasts than the forecasted financial statement method, especially if fixed assets are lumpy, economies of scale exist, or if excess capacity exists. e. Perhaps the most important step when developing forecasted financial statements is to determine the breakdown of common equity between common stock and retained earnings.

ANSWER: a

27. Spontaneous funds are generally defined as follows: a. A forecasting approach in which the forecasted percentage of sales for each item is held constant. b. Funds that a firm must raise externally through short-term or long-term borrowing and/or by selling new common or preferred stock. c. Funds that arise out of normal business operations from its suppliers, employees, and the government, and they include immediate increases in accounts payable, accrued wages, and accrued taxes. d. The amount of cash raised in a given year minus the amount of cash needed to finance the additional capital expenditures and working capital needed to support the firm's growth. e. Assets required per dollar of sales.

ANSWER: c

30. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? a. Suppose a firm is operating its fixed assets at below 100% of capacity, but it has no excess current assets. Based on the AFN equation, its AFN will be larger than if it had been operating with excess capacity in both fixed and current assets. b. If a firm retains all of its earnings, then it cannot require any additional funds to support sales growth. c. Additional funds needed (AFN) are typically raised using a combination of notes payable, long-term debt, and common stock. Such funds are non-spontaneous in the sense that they require explicit financing decisions to obtain them. d. If a firm has a positive free cash flow, then it must have either a zero or a negative AFN. e. Since accounts payable and accrued liabilities must eventually be paid off, as these accounts increase, AFN as calculated by the AFN equation must also increase.

ANSWER: c

25. The capital intensity ratio is generally defined as follows: a. The percentage of liabilities that increase spontaneously as a percentage of sales. b. The ratio of sales to current assets. c. The ratio of current assets to sales. d. The amount of assets required per dollar of sales, or A0*/S0. e. Sales divided by total assets, i.e., the total assets turnover ratio.

ANSWER: d

26. Which of the following is NOT one of the steps taken in the financial planning process? a. Monitor operations after implementing the plan to spot any deviations and then take corrective actions. b. Determine the amount of capital that will be needed to support the plan. c. Develop a set of forecasted financial statements under alternative versions of the operating plan in order to analyze the effects of different operating procedures on projected profits and financial ratios. d. Consult with key competitors about the optimal set of prices to charge, i.e., the prices that will maximize profits for our firm and its competitors. e. Forecast the funds that will be generated internally. If internal funds are insufficient to cover the required new investment, then identify sources from which the required external capital can be raised.

ANSWER: d

23. F. Marston, Inc. has developed a forecasting model to estimate its AFN for the upcoming year. All else being equal, which of the following factors is most likely to lead to an increase of the additional funds needed (AFN)? a. A switch to a just-in-time inventory system and outsourcing production. b. The company reduces its dividend payout ratio. c. The company switches its materials purchases to a supplier that sells on terms of 1/5, net 90, from a supplier whose terms are 3/15, net 35. d. The company discovers that it has excess capacity in its fixed assets. e. A sharp increase in its forecasted sales.

ANSWER: e RATIONALE: Answer e is obviously correct. A switch to a just-in-time inventory system and outsourcing production would lower the firm's capital intensity ratio, which would lower AFN. Note that with purchase terms of 1/5 net 90, the nominal cost of non-free trade credit is only 4.34%, whereas with 3/15, net 35, the nominal cost of trade credit is over 56%. Therefore, the firm should have been taking discounts originally, hence should have had few accounts payable, whereas it would probably not take discounts and thus have more accounts payable with the new supplier. That change would lower its AFN.