In an efficient market, the cost of equity for a risky firm does which one of the
following according to the security market line?
A. Produces a return that will be less than the market rate but higher than the risk-free
rate
B. Equals the market rate of return for all stocks
C. Has a maximum cost equal to the market rate of return
D. Decreases as the beta of the firms stock increases
E. Increases in direct relation to the stocks systematic risk
A firm has an equity multiplier of 1.5. This means that the firm has a:
A. debt-equity ratio of 0.67.
B. debt-equity ratio of 0.33.
C. total debt ratio of 0.50.
D. total debt ratio of 0.67.
E. total debt ratio of 0.33.
Explain how the process of dividend smoothing affects the dividend growth rate as
compared to the earnings growth rate.