HIGGINS CHAPTER 4
Wax Music expects sales of $437,500 next year. The profit margin is 4.8 percent and the firm has a 30 percent dividend payout ratio. What is the projected increase in retained earnings? A. $14,700 B. $17,500 C. $18,300 D. $20,600 E. $21,000 F. None of the above.
A. $14,700 Change in retained earnings = $437,500 × 0.048 × (1 - 0.30) = $14,700
Please refer to the selected financial information for Boss Stores above. What is the difference between Boss's sustainable growth rate and its actual growth rate for 2014? A. - 11.40% B. - 7.09% C. - 3.04% D. 5.47% E. 13.98% F. 21.40%
C. - 3.04%
Which of the following would increase a company's need for external finance, all else equal? A. An increase in the dividend payout ratio B. A decrease in sales growth C. An increase in profit margin D. A decrease in the collection period
A. An increase in the dividend payout ratio
Westcomb, Inc. had equity of $150,000 at the beginning of the year. At the end of the year, the company had total assets of $195,000. During the year, the company sold no new equity. Net income for the year was $72,000 and dividends were $44,640. What is Westcomb's sustainable growth rate? A. 15.32 percent B. 15.79 percent C. 17.78 percent D. 18.01 percent E. 18.24 percent
E. 18.24 percent Change in Equity = Retained earnings = $72,000 - $44,640 = $27,360 Sustainable growth rate = g* = Change in Equity/Equitybop = $27,360/$150,000 = 18.24% Alternative: g* = R × ROEbop = (72,000 - 44,640)/72,000 × 72,000/150,000 = 0.38 × 0.48 = 0.1824
Which of the following statements is true? A. Rapid growth spurs increases in market share and profits and thus, is always a blessing. B. Firms that grow rapidly only very rarely encounter financial problems. C. The cash flows generated in a given time period are equal to the profits reported. D. Profits provide assurance that cash flow will be sufficient to maintain solvency. E. Due to required cash investments in current assets, fast-growing and profitable companies can literally "grow broke". F. None of the above.
E. Due to required cash investments in current assets, fast-growing and profitable companies can literally "grow broke".
Which of the following can affect a firm's sustainable rate of growth? I. Asset turnover ratio II. Profit margin III. Dividend policy IV. Financial leverage A. III only B. I and III only C. II, III, and IV only D. I, II, and IV only E. I, II, III, and IV F. None of the above.
E. I, II, III, and IV
Which of the following questions are appropriate to address upon conducting sustainable growth analysis and the financial planning process? I. Should the firm merge with a competitor? II. Should additional equity be sold? III. Should a particular division be sold? IV. Should a new product be introduced? A. I, II, and III only B. I, II, and IV only C. I, III, and IV only D. II, III, and IV only E. I, II, III, and IV F. None of the above.
E. I, II, III, and IV
Which of these ratios are the determinants of a firm's sustainable growth rate? I. Assets-to-equity ratio II. Profit margin III. Retention ratio IV. Asset turnover ratio A. I and III only B. II and III only C. II, III, and IV only D. I, II, and III only E. I, II, III, and IV F. None of the above.
E. I, II, III, and IV
In recent years, U.S. companies as a whole have repurchased more equity than they have issued.
true
If a company seeks to maximize firm value, it should never grow at a rate above its sustainable growth rate.
false
The only way a company can grow at a rate above its current sustainable growth rate is by increasing leverage.
false
Issue costs of equity are high relative to those of debt.
true
Gujarat Corporation doubled its shareholders' equity during the year 2014. Gujarat did not issue any new equity, repurchase any equity, or pay out any dividends during the year. What is Gujarat's sustainable growth rate for 2014? A. 50% B. 100% C. 150% D. 200%
B. 100% If equity doubled, then g* = change in equity/equitybop = 100%. For example, if equitybop was 25, the change in equity must also be 25 in order to double equity.
Which one of the following correctly defines the retention ratio? A. one plus the dividend payout ratio B. additions to retained earnings divided by net income C. additions to retained earnings divided by dividends paid D. net income minus additions to retained earnings E. net income minus cash dividends F. None of the above.
B. additions to retained earnings divided by net income
The retention ratio is: A. equal to net income divided by the change in total equity. B. the percentage of net income available to the firm to fund future growth. C. equal to one minus the asset turnover ratio. D. the change in retained earnings divided by the dividends paid. E. the dollar increase in net income divided by the dollar increase in sales. F. None of the above.
B. the percentage of net income available to the firm to fund future growth.
Please refer to the selected financial information for Boss Stores above. What is the retention ratio for 2013? A. 0.32 B. 0.68 C. 0.97 D. 1.00 E. None of the above.
C. 0.97
Komatsu has a 4.5 percent profit margin and a 15 percent dividend payout ratio. The asset turnover ratio is 1.6 and the assets-to-equity ratio (using beginning-of-period equity) is 1.77. What is Komatsu's sustainable rate of growth? A. 1.91% B. 6.12% C. 10.83% D. 11.26% E. 12.74% F. None of the above.
C. 10.83% Sustainable growth = PRAT = 0.045 × (1 - 0.15) × 1.6 × 1.77 = 10.83%
Please refer to the selected financial information for Boss Stores above. What is the sustainable growth rate for 2013? A. - 17.6% B. - 7.9% C. 9.97% D. 10.27% E. 12.23% F. 21.40%
C. 9.97%
Milano Corporation has experienced growth of 20% for each of the last 5 years. Over this 5-year period, Milano's return on equity has never exceeded 15%, its profit margin has held steady at 5%, and its total asset turnover has not changed. Over the 5-year period, Milano paid no dividends and issued no new equity. Based on this information, which of the following can you most likely infer about Milano's performance over the past 5 years? A. Milano's leverage has decreased. B. Milano's leverage has remained constant. C. Milano's leverage has increased. D. None of the above.
C. Milano's leverage has increased. Note first that g > g* because g = 20% and g*<15%. With g > g* one of PRAT must increase. P has held steady at 5%, R has remained at 100%, A has not changed. Thus T (leverage) must have increased.
The sustainable growth rate: A. assumes there is no external financing of any kind. B. assumes no additional long-term debt is available. C. assumes the debt-equity ratio is constant. D. assumes the debt-equity ratio is 1.0. E. assumes all income is retained by the firm. F. None of the above.
C. assumes the debt-equity ratio is constant.
The sustainable growth rate: A. is the highest growth rate attainable for a firm that pays no dividends. B. is the highest growth rate attainable for a firm without issuing new stock. C. can never be greater than the return on equity. D. can be increased by decreasing leverage.
C. can never be greater than the return on equity.
Which one of the following policies most directly affects the projection of the retained earnings balance to be used on a pro forma statement? A. net working capital policy B. capital structure policy C. dividend policy D. capital budgeting policy E. capacity utilization policy F. None of the above.
C. dividend policy
A firm has a retention ratio of 40 percent and a sustainable growth rate of 6.2 percent. Its asset turnover ratio is 0.85 and its assets-to-equity ratio (using beginning-of-period equity) is 1.80. What is its profit margin? A. 3.79% B. 5.69% C. 6.75% D. 10.13% E. 18.24%
D. 10.13% 0.062 = PRAT = profit margin × 0.40 × 0.85 × 1.80 profit margin = 0.062/(0.40 × 0.85 × 1.80) = 10.13%
Please refer to the selected financial information for Boss Stores above. What is the actual sales growth rate for 2013? A. - 17.6% B. - 7.9% C. 8.51% D. 21.4% E. None of the above.
D. 21.4%
Hayesville Corporation had net income of $5 million this year on net sales of $125 million per year. At the beginning of this year, its debt-to-equity ratio was 1.5 and it held $75 million in total liabilities. It paid out $2 million in dividends for the year. What is Hayesville Corporation's sustainable growth rate? A. 3% B. 4% C. 5% D. 6%
D. 6% ROEbop × Retention ratio = (5/50) × 0.6 = 6%
You constructed a pro forma balance sheet for next year and found that external financing required was negative (i.e., the company projected a financing surplus). Which of the following options, all else equal, would NOT correct the projected imbalance? A. A stock repurchase B. A decrease in accounts payable C. An increase in cash and marketable securities D. An increase in the retention ratio
D. An increase in the retention ratio
Which of the following actions would help a firm's growth problem if its actual sales growth exceeds its sustainable rate of growth? I. Increase prices II. Decrease financial leverage III. Decrease dividends IV. Prune away less-profitable products A. I and II only B. I and III only C. I, II, and IV only D. I, III, and IV only E. I, II, III, and IV F. None of the above.
D. I, III, and IV only
Which one of the following will increase the sustainable rate of growth a corporation can achieve? A. avoidance of external equity financing B. increase in corporate tax rates C. reduction in the retention ratio D. decrease in the dividend payout ratio E. decrease in sales given a positive profit margin F. None of the above.
D. decrease in the dividend payout ratio
The sustainable growth rate of a firm is best described as the: A. minimum growth rate achievable assuming a 100 percent retention ratio. B. minimum growth rate achievable if the firm maintains a constant equity multiplier. C. maximum growth rate achievable excluding external financing of any kind. D. maximum growth rate achievable excluding any external equity financing while maintaining a constant debt-equity ratio. E. maximum growth rate achievable with unlimited debt financing. F. None of the above.
D. maximum growth rate achievable excluding any external equity financing while maintaining a constant debt-equity ratio.
One way to manage an actual growth rate above a sustainable growth rate is to decrease prices.
false
Share repurchases usually decrease earnings per share.
false
