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Marble Construction estimates that its WACC is 10 percent ifequity comes from re

ID: 2770660 • Letter: M

Question

Marble Construction estimates that its WACC is 10 percent ifequity comes from retained earnings. However, if the company issuesnew stock to raise new equity, it estimates that its WACC will riseto 10.8 percent. The company believes that it will exhaust itsretained earnings at $2,500,000 of capital due to the number ofhighly profitable projects available to the firm and its limitedearnings. The company is considering the following seven investmentprojects:

                     

                     Project                        Size                                  IRR

                         A                           $650,000                          14.0%

                         B                           1,050,000                          13.5         

                         C                           1,000,000                          11.2

                         D                           1,200,000                          11.0

                         E                               500,000                          10.7

                         F                               650,000                          10.3  

                        G                                700,000                          10.2

Assume that each of these projects is independent and that eachis just as risky as the firm’s existing assets. Which set ofprojects should be accepted, and what is the firm’s optimalcapital budget?

Explanation / Answer

The accept-or-reject rule, using the IRR method, is to acceptthe project if its Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is higher than theWeighted Average Cost of Capital(k) [r>k]. The project shall berejected if its internal rate of return is e lower than theWeighted Average Cost of Capital cost of (r<k)

                                  Accept if        r>k

                                  Reject if         r<k

                                    Mayaccept if r = k

Project

Size

Rate of Return

A

$650,000

14.00%

B

$1,050,000

13.5%

C

$1,000,000

11.20%

D

$1,200,000

11.00%

           

         The above projects should be accepted as the rate of return on theproject is higher than the WACC(10.8%) which means that theprojects will be profitable as the returns are higher than the costof the project (capital).

Project

Size

IRR

A

$650,000

14.00%

B

$1,050,000

13.50%

C

$1,000,000

11.20%

D

$1,200,000

11.00%

E

$500,000

10.70%

F

$650,000

10.30%

G

$700,000

10.20%

Optimal Capital

$5,750,000

Hope it may help you

Project

Size

Rate of Return

A

$650,000

14.00%

B

$1,050,000

13.5%

C

$1,000,000

11.20%

D

$1,200,000

11.00%