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1. (True/False): A firm\'s cost of capital will generally increase if the firm l

ID: 2754281 • Letter: 1

Question

1. (True/False): A firm's cost of capital will generally increase if the firm lowers its debt-equity ratio.

2. (True/False): The cost of equity will generally increase for risky firms when the risk-free rate of return increases.

3. To calculate the present value of a business, the firm's free cash flows should be discounted at the firm's:

A. weighted-average cost of capital.

B. pre-tax cost of debt.

C. aftertax cost of debt.

D. cost of equity.

4. An increase in which one of the following is most apt to decrease the WACC of a firm that has both debt and equity in its capital structure?

A. Firm's beta

B. Market rate of return

C. Tax rate

D. Yield on preferred stock

Explanation / Answer

1. A firm's cost of capital will generally increase if the firm lowers its debt-equity ratio :True. This is because debt financing generally allows tax deductibility. Hence, offers the lowest cost of capital.

2. The cost of equity will generally increase for risky firms when the risk-free rate of return increases:False

The cost of equity will generally remain unchanged for risky firms when the risk-free rate of return increases.

This can be ascertained using the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) by the formula:

Cost of Equity (Kc)= Rf + (Rm-Rf) B

Where, Rf is the risk free return

Rm = Return from the market

B= Beta.

3. To calculate the present value of a business, the firm's free cash flows should be discounted at the firm's:

C. aftertax cost of debt. This is because tax implications are taken into consideration.

4. An increase in C. Tax Rate is the most apt to decrease the WACC of a firm that has both debt and equity in its capital structure.