The next expected dividend is easy to estimate, and the stock price can be determined readily. However, it is not easy
to determine the marginal investor’s expected future growth rate. Three approaches are commonly used: (1)
historical growth rates, (2) retention growth model, and (3) analysts’ forecasts.
Suppose a firm’s stock trades at $50 and its most recent dividend was $3.12. If the expected constant growth rate is
5.8%, what is the firm’s cost of equity?