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McKeown and Company currently has - An equity multiplier of 2.50, - A total asse

ID: 2798197 • Letter: M

Question

McKeown and Company currently has

- An equity multiplier of 2.50,

- A total asset turnover of 0.75,

- And a profit margin of 10%.

The president is unhappy with the current ROE (return on equity) and he thinks it could be doubled. He will accomplish this by:

- Increasing the profit margin to 12%

- And by increasing debt utilization

- However, total asset turnover will not change.

What should be the new equity multiplier and total debt ratio to double the return on equity? USE AT LEAST 4 DECIMAL PLACES

Explanation / Answer

WE KNOW THAT

AS PER DU PONT ANALYSIS

RETURN ON EQUITY = NET PROFIT MARGIN*ASSET TURNOVER*EQUITY MULTIPLIER

MOREOVER

NET PROFIT MARGIN = ((PROFIT AFTER TAX)/SALES)*100

ASSET TURNOVER = SALES / TOTAL ASSETS

EQUITY MULTIPLIER = TOTAL ASSETS / EQUITY

FOR INITIAL CASE

EQUITY MULTIPLIER = 2.50

TOTAL ASSET TURNOVER = 0.75

PROFIT MARGIN = 10%

HENCE

ROE = EM* TAT* PM =2.50*0.75*0.10= 0.1875

ASPER THE GIVEN CONDITION OF QUESTION

ROE IS DOUBLED

NEW ROE = 2* 0.1875 = 0.375

NOW PROFIT MARGIN = 12%

TOTAL ASSET TURNOVER =0.75

HENCE

ROE = EM*TAT*PM

0.375 =EM*0.75*0.12

EM= 4.1667

NOW

WE ALSO KNOW THAT

DEBT RATIO = 1-(1/EQUITY MULTIPLIER)

DEBT RATIO =1-(1/4.1667)

DEBT RATIO =0.7601