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AICPA Exam CPA-Business Topic 3 Question 91 Discussion

Actual exam question for AICPA's CPA-Business exam
Question #: 91
Topic #: 3
[All CPA-Business Questions]

Williams, Inc. is interested in measuring its overall cost of capital and has gathered the following data. Under the terms described below, the company can sell unlimited amounts of all instruments.

* Williams can raise cash by selling $1,000, 8 percent, 20-year bonds with annual interest payments.

In selling the issue, an average premium of $30 per bond would be received, and the firm must pay floatation costs of $30 per bond. The after-tax cost of funds is estimated to be 4.8 percent.

* Williams can sell 8 percent preferred stock at par value, $105 per share. The cost of issuing and selling the preferred stock is expected to be $5 per share.

* Williams' common stock is currently selling for $100 per share. The firm expects to pay cash dividends of $7 per share next year, and the dividends are expected to remain constant. The stock will have to be underpriced by $3 per share, and floatation costs are expected to amount to $5 per share.

* Williams expects to have available $100,000 of retained earnings in the coming year; once these retained earnings are exhausted, the firm will use new common stock as the form of common stock equity financing.

* Williams' preferred capital structure is:

Long-term debt 30%

Preferred stock 20

Common stock 50

The cost of funds from retained earnings for Williams, Inc. is:

Show Suggested Answer Hide Answer
Suggested Answer: A

Choice 'a' is correct. 7.0 percent cost of funds from retained earnings.

The cost of retained earnings is equal to the rate of return required by the firm's common shareholders (or, in effect, the return 'lost' by them when the firm chooses to fund with retained earnings). While oftentimes this rate is somewhat subjective, we are given the facts to exactly answer the question in this case. The stock is currently selling for $100/share, and the dividend is given at $7/share.

$7 / $100 = 7%

Choices 'b', 'c', and 'd' are incorrect, per the above Explanation:/calculation.


Contribute your Thoughts:

Oren
3 months ago
Williams Inc. must be in the construction business, because this question is building up a lot of confusion! I'll just go with the flow and pick D, 7.8%.
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Herschel
3 months ago
This is like a financial sudoku puzzle. I need to break it down step-by-step to get the right answer. Hmm, let me think this through...
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Meghann
3 months ago
Once we have those figures, we can calculate the weighted average cost of capital for Williams, Inc.
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Denny
3 months ago
That's right. We should start with the cost of debt, preferred stock, and common stock.
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Selene
3 months ago
I think we need to calculate the cost of each source of financing first.
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Rutha
4 months ago
This question is making my brain hurt. I'm just going to guess and hope for the best. C sounds good, 8.1% it is!
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Kelvin
4 months ago
Alright, let's see... Retained earnings are the cheapest source of funds, so the cost should be lower than the other options. I'll go with B, 7.4%.
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Thora
3 months ago
Yes, that seems to be the most logical choice based on the information provided.
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Gearldine
3 months ago
So, we're all going with option B, 7.4 percent?
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Reuben
3 months ago
I agree, retained earnings are usually the cheapest source of funds.
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Tasia
3 months ago
I think the cost of funds from retained earnings is 7.4 percent.
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Vilma
4 months ago
Wait, are we supposed to use the preferred capital structure or the actual financing mix? I'm so confused, this question is like a maze!
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Dewitt
4 months ago
Because the cost of funds from retained earnings is higher due to the preferred capital structure.
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Elenora
4 months ago
Hmm, the after-tax cost of funds is 4.8%, but the question asks about the cost of funds from retained earnings. Gotta think this through.
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Sanjuana
2 months ago
User 3
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Fletcher
3 months ago
User 2
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Weldon
3 months ago
User 1
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Bulah
3 months ago
User 1
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Ira
3 months ago
User 2
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Elise
3 months ago
User 1
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Josefa
4 months ago
Why do you think it's 8.1 percent?
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Dewitt
4 months ago
I disagree, I believe the answer is C) 8.1 percent.
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Josefa
5 months ago
I think the answer is B) 7.4 percent.
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