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1. Westerly Manufacturing has compiled the information shown in the following ta

ID: 2699587 • Letter: 1

Question

1.     Westerly Manufacturing has compiled the information shown in the following table:

Source of Capital

Book Value

Market Value

After-tax Cost

Long-Term Debt

$4,000,000

$3,840,000

6.0%

Preferred Stock

$40,000

$60,000

13.0%

Common Stock Equity

$1,060,000

$3,000,000

17.0%

Totals

$5,100,000

$6,900,000

(a) Calculate the firm%u2019s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) using book value weights.

(b) Calculate the firm%u2019s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) using market value weights.

(c)   Compare your answers found in parts (a) and (b) and briefly explain the differences. Other things equal, would you recommend that Westerly Manufacturing rely on its book value weights or market value weights in determining its WACC?

Source of Capital

Book Value

Market Value

After-tax Cost

Long-Term Debt

$4,000,000

$3,840,000

6.0%

Preferred Stock

$40,000

$60,000

13.0%

Common Stock Equity

$1,060,000

$3,000,000

17.0%

Totals

$5,100,000

$6,900,000

Explanation / Answer


Here is the preview of the solution, for full work I have given a dropbox link to download a excel file. Download the file from link below to look at the work.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ddw1a8lj015bj1/Westerly%20Manufacturing.xls


Preview of the solution:


(a) Calculate the firm%u2019s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) using book value weights. WACC 8.34% (b) Calculate the firm%u2019s weighted average cost of capital (WACC) using market value weights. WACC 10.84% (c) Compare your answers found in parts (a) and (b) and briefly explain the differences. Other things equal, would you recommend that Westerly Manufacturing rely on its book value weights or market value weights in determining its WACC? The difference in the WACC is due to the market value if equity and debt. As using the market value weights leads to a change in the proportion of different sources of capital. Other things being equal it is advisable to use market value weights as this leads to more reliable market related information.