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SUM Inc. has debt-to-equity ratio of 75%, profit margin of 10%, total sales of 1

ID: 2768076 • Letter: S

Question

SUM Inc. has debt-to-equity ratio of 75%, profit margin of 10%, total sales of 15 million and total assets of 5 million. The president is unhappy with the current return on equity, and he thinks it could be doubled. This could be accomplished by (1) increasing the profit margin to 14% and (2) increasing debt utilization. Total asset turnover will not change. What new debt-to-equity ratio is required to double the return on equity?

FORMAT TO 4 DECIMAL PLACES

0.65

1.19

2.55

1.50

0.92

SUM Inc. has debt-to-equity ratio of 75%, profit margin of 10%, total sales of 15 million and total assets of 5 million. The president is unhappy with the current return on equity, and he thinks it could be doubled. This could be accomplished by (1) increasing the profit margin to 14% and (2) increasing debt utilization. Total asset turnover will not change. What new debt-to-equity ratio is required to double the return on equity?

FORMAT TO 4 DECIMAL PLACES

A.

0.65

B.

1.19

C.

2.55

D.

1.50

E.

0.92

Explanation / Answer

Current ROE = (profit margin * total sales )/(total assets * 1/(1+debt-to-equity ratio)

Current ROE = (10%*15) / (5*1/1.75)

Current ROE = 52.50%

increasing the profit margin to 14%

ROE = (14%*15)/(5*1/1.75) = 73.50%

ROE could not be doubled through increasing the profit margin to 14%

Required debt-to-equity ratio = (Required ROE * Total Asset )/ (profit margin * total sales ) -1

Required debt-to-equity ratio = (105% * 5)/(10%*15)-1

Required debt-to-equity ratio = 10.50

ROE could be doubled through increasing debt utilization i.e increasing debt to Equity ratio from 75% to 150%

Increaseing Debt to Equity ratio = 0.75/1.75* 2

New equity multiplier is required = (Required ROE * Total Asset )/ (profit margin * total sales )

New equity multiplier is required = (105% * 5)/(10%*15)

New equity multiplier is required = 3.50

ROE could not be doubled through increasing the profit margin to 14%

ROE could be doubled through increasing debt utilization

New equity multiplier is required = 3.50

Therefore, option D is correct.