CHAPTER 14—CAPITAL STRUCTURE AND LEVERAGE
expense. New bonds would be issued and the proceeds would be used to buy back shares of common stock. Neither total
assets nor operating income would change, but expected earnings per share (EPS) would increase. Assuming the CFO’s
estimates are correct, which of the following statements is CORRECT?
Since the proposed plan increases the firm’s financial risk, the stock price might fall even if EPS increases.
If the plan reduces the WACC, the stock price is likely to decline.
Since the plan is expected to increase EPS, this implies that net income is also expected to increase.
If the plan does increase the EPS, the stock price will automatically increase at the same rate.
Under the plan there will be more bonds outstanding, and that will increase their liquidity and thus lower the
interest rate on the currently outstanding bonds.
13-2 Business and Financial Risk
FFMC.BRIG.15.13.02 – Business and financial risk
United States – BUSPROG.FFMC.BRIG.15.03 – Analytic skills
United States – OH – DISC.FFMC.BRIG.15.10 – Capital structure
Financial leverage and EPS
Multiple Choice: Conceptual
47. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
Increasing its use of financial leverage is one way to increase a firm’s return on investors’ capital (ROIC).
If a firm lowered its fixed costs but increased its variable costs by just enough to hold total costs at the present
level of sales constant, this would increase its operating leverage.
The debt ratio that maximizes expected EPS generally exceeds the debt ratio that maximizes share price.
If a company were to issue debt and use the money to repurchase common stock, this would reduce its return
on investors’ capital (ROIC). (Assume that the repurchase has no impact on the company’s operating income.)
If a change in the bankruptcy code made bankruptcy less costly to corporations, this would tend to reduce
corporations’ debt ratios.
13-2 Business and Financial Risk
FFMC.BRIG.15.13.02 – Business and financial risk
United States – BUSPROG.FFMC.BRIG.15.03 – Analytic skills
United States – OH – DISC.FFMC.BRIG.15.10 – Capital structure
Financial leverage and EPS
Multiple Choice: Conceptual
48. Your firm has $500 million of investor-supplied capital, its return on investors’ capital (ROIC) is 15%, and it currently
has no debt in its capital structure (i.e., wd = 0). The CFO is contemplating a recapitalization where it would issue debt at
an after-tax cost of 10% and use the proceeds to buy back some of its common stock, such that the percentage of common
equity in the capital structure (wc) is 1 − wd. If the company goes ahead with the recapitalization, its operating income, the
size of the firm (i.e., total assets), total investor-supplied capital, and tax rate would remain unchanged. Which of the