Finance 254                                                                                                    Exam 2

Spring 2000                                                                                                    Form A

Questions in Red are over material that is not on this semester’s Exam 2.

Section I: Conceptual Questions #1-14 are 4 points each

 

1.                  You expect interest rates to fall in the future. Which of the following bonds is a better investment?

 

A.     5 year 5% coupon bond;

B.     10 year zero coupon bond; 

C.     8 year 8% coupon bond;

D.     10 year 10% coupon bond;

E.      both a) and c) are equally good. 

 

2.                  Which of the following is a disadvantage of financing with stock?

 

A.     No Required Fixed Payments

B.     Lower Component Cost of Capital

C.     No Maturity

D.     Controlling Shareholders May Lose Some Control

E.      Lower Flotation Costs Vs. Debt

 

3.                  When looking at a constant growth stock, which of the following MUST be true to use the constant growth model?

 

A.     Required Rate of Return is greater than growth rate.

B.     Required Rate of Return is less than growth rate.

C.     Growth rate varies the first couple years and then levels off.

D.     Growth rate is greater than 10 Percent.

E.      Both A and C

 


4.                  You observe the following information concerning two tax schedules. Tax schedule 1 is applied in Democratic Republic of Congo and Tax schedule 2, in Brazil.

 

Total Tax          Total Tax

            Income Level                            Paid 1              Paid 2

            $10,000                                   $1,000             $1,000

            $20,000                                   $2,200             $2,000

            $30,000                                   $3,600             $3,000

            $40,000                                   $5,200             $4,000

 

Which of the following statement is true based on the above information?

 

A.     Tax rates in DR of Congo are progressive since the amount of tax paid increases on higher levels of income.

B.     Tax rates in Brazil are progressive because the tax rate is higher on higher incomes.

C.     Both tax schedules are progressive tax laws.

D.     Tax rate in Brazil is more progressive than that in the D. R of Congo

 

5.                  Two firms have the same current ratio, 0.88, and the same amount of sales.  Firm A has, however, a higher inventory turnover ratio than Firm B. Therefore, Firm A's quick ratio, when compared with Firm B, will be

 

A.     higher

B.     smaller

C.     the same

D.     undetermined. More information is needed.

 

6.                  Which of the following relationships between Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Total Assets (ROA) are theoretically possible?

 

A.     ROE = ROA

B.     ROE > ROA

C.     ROE < ROA

D.     Both A and B are theoretically possible.

E.      All of the above are theoretically possible answers.

 

7.                  In the statement of cash flows, accruals and depreciation are both classified as:

 

A.     Operating cash flows

B.     Investing cash flows

C.     Financing cash flows

D.     none of the above

 

8.                  Regarding corporate taxes which of the following is (are) correct?

 

A.     Operating expenses and dividends paid are deductible.

B.     Interest expenses and capital gains are fully taxable

C.     30% (in general) of interest income is taxable

D.     Depreciation is deductible, whereas dividends paid are not deductible.

 

9.                  Which of the following statements is (are) correct?

 

A.     Depreciation is a noncash revenue

B.     After-tax cash flow can increase even when a company's net income decreases.

C.     In a progressive tax system one's individual average tax rate will always be higher than his marginal tax rate.

D.     Increases in balance sheet liabilities is a use of cash.

E.      All of the above statements are correct.

 

10.              Which of the following statements is true:

 

A.     An increase in interest rates will cause prices of outstanding bonds to rise as well.

B.     Whenever the rate of interest falls below the coupon rate, a fixed rate bond's price will fall below its par value

C.     A premium bond is a bond that trades below par

D.     The market value of a bond will always approach its par value as its maturity date approaches, provided the firm does not go bankrupt.

E.      None of the above

 

11.              Which of the following actions will DECREASE a bond's yield to maturity:

 

A.     The company's bonds are downgraded by the rating agencies

B.     The economy enters a recession

C.     A bond's price increases

D.     The firm's potential future earnings are expected to decline

E.      Interest rates increase

 

12.       Other things held constant, which of the following will not affect the current ratio, assuming an initial current ratio greater than 1.0?

 

A.     Fixed assets are sold for cash.

B.     Long-term debt is issued to pay off current liabilities.

C.     Accounts receivable are collected.

D.     Cash is used to pay off accounts payable.

E.      A bank loan is obtained, and the proceeds are credited to the firm's checking account.

 

13.       Which of the following alternatives could potentially result in a net increase in a company's cash flow for the current year?

 

A.     Reducing the days-sales-outstanding (average collection period) ratio.

B.     Increasing the number of years over which fixed assets are depreciated.

C.     Decreasing the accounts payable balance.

D.     All of the answers above are correct.

E.      Answers A and B are correct.

 

14.              Krusty Burger Korp. has one bond issue outstanding with 10 years left to maturity and a 13% annual coupon rate.  Which of the following would happen if Krusty Burger's bond rating changes from CCC to BBB?

 

A.                 Krusty Burger's bond price would fall.

B.                 Krusty Burger's bond price would rise.

C.                 Krusty Burger's current yield would fall.

D.                 Both A and C would happen.

E.                  Both B and C would happen.

 

Section II: Problems.  Questions 15-30 are 5 points each.

 

For questions 15-18, refer to the financial statements for Caterpillar at the end of your exam.

 

15.              What is Caterpillar's 1998 times-interest-earned ratio?

 

A.                 2.01

B.                 2.89

C.                 3.01

D.                 3.89

E.                  4.35

 

16.              What is Caterpillar's 1997 quick ratio?

 

A.                 1.54

B.                 1.37

C.                 1.13

D.                 1.00

E.                  0.60


 

17.              Holding other 1998 factors constant what debt ratio would have Caterpillar's needed during 1998 in order to have the same return on equity in 1998 as they did in 1997?

 

A.                 70.2%

B.                 77.5%

C.                 78.0%

D.                 79.6%

E.                  83.1%

 

18.              At the end of 1998, Caterpillar's PE ratio was 15.  What is Catepillar's 1998 market to book ratio?

 

A.                 0.29

B.                 0.90

C.                 1.04

D.                 3.48

E.                  4.42

 

19.              What is the following bond's yield to maturity assuming the company makes semi-annual coupon payments and also assume the bond matures on today’s date in its maturity year.  

 

Bond

Cur. Yld.

Vol.

Close

Net Chg.

Burns Energy 5s40

8.0

15

62 1/4 

- 1/4

 

A.     6.75%

B.     7.28%

C.     8.03%

D.     8.24%

E.      9.16%

 

20.              Stan purchases a callable bond issued by Harbuck's Coffee for the current market price of $1150 and the bond makes annual coupon payments of 15% on its par value of $1000.  The bond matures in 10 years and is callable in 2 years at a price $1040.  What is Stan's expected rate of return on this bond if market interest rates stay at or below their current level over the next 2 years?

 

A.     6.73%

B.     8.45%

C.     12.51%

D.     12.61%

E.      14.23%

 

21.              One year ago, Dave Letterman purchased a $1000 par value, 10% annual coupon bond issued by Ensemble Corp. (the company that makes cholesterol lowering food) for $950.  Today, Dave decides to sell this bond at the current market price based on the bond having a yield to maturity of 11.5% and 9 years remaining to maturity.  What is Dave's total rate of return on this investment?

 

A.     7.2%

B.     8.6%

C.     10.0%

D.     10.5%

E.      11.5%

 

22.              Homer Simpson has a semi-annual coupon Treasury bond that he wants to sell with an 8% annual coupon rate, a $1,000 par value, and 15 years remaining until maturity.  He asks for your help in determining the sale price for this bond.  What is the lowest price that Homer should accept for this bond if the bond's yield to maturity is 7.2%?

 

A.     $930.83

B.     $931.52

C.     $1071.95

D.     $1072.66

E.      $1086.47

 

23.              The common stock of Worldwide Pants currently sells for its equilibrium price of $40 a share.  Worldwide Pants current dividend is $2.00 and is expected to grow at an 8% constant annual rate forever.  The current risk-free rate is 6%, and the required return on the market is 15%.  What is the beta for Worldwide Pants?

 

A.     0.47

B.     0.49

C.     0.78

D.     0.82

E.      1.00


 

24.              Bart Simpson, the new CFO of Gross Novelty Stuff is considering increasing the company’s growth rate entering a new line of business.  Currently, Gross Novelty Stuff has a current dividend of $1 per share and its dividend is expected to grow at a constant rate of 8%.  The company’s beta is 2.0 and the risk free rate is 6% and the market risk premium is 10%.  Bart has consulted some security analysts and told them about the new line of business he is considering.  These analysts say if Gross Novelty Stuff enters this new line of business their growth rate in dividends and earnings will increase to a constant rate of 12% per year, but the company will have more market risk causing its beta to rise to 2.2.  What would be the dollar change in Gross Novelty Stuff's equilibrium stock price if Bart goes ahead with this new line of business?

 

A.     +$0.59

B.     +$0.69

C.     +$1.00

D.     +$19.05

E.      +$22.00

 

25.              MicroNet.com is considered to be a supernormal (non-constant) growth company.  Given the following information what is the expected price of MicroNet.com?

 

·        Current Dividend Per Share                                                      $0.50

·        Required Rate of Return                                                           15% or 0.15

·        Annual Dividend Growth Rate, year 1-3                                    45% or 0.45

·        Annual Dividend Growth Rate, year 4 to infinity             11% or 0.11

 

A.     $27.81

B.     $30.24

C.     $35.84

D.     $42.30

E.      $50.38

 

26.              Buzz Beer is considered a constant growth stock with a current stock price of $60, and its current dividend is $2.50 a share.  Buzz Beer's beta is 1.2 and the risk free rate is 5% and the market risk premium is 8%.  What is Buzz Beer's expected annual constant growth rate assuming the current $60 is the stock's equilibrium price?

 

A.     4.3%

B.     4.6%

C.     6.0%

D.     10.0%

E.      10.4%

 

27.              Dumb & Dumber Lost and Found Corp. is currently a constant growth stock with a current dividend of $2.00 and a growth rate of 7 percent.  The stock's required return is 14 percent.  Dumb & Dumber wants to change from being a constant growth stock to a constant dividend stock (a dividend growth rate of zero) while maintaining their current equilibrium stock price.  What dividend would Dumb & Dumber have to pay to accomplish their goal?

 

A.                 $2.00

B.                 $2.14

C.                 $4.00

D.                 $4.28

E.                  $1,000,000.38

 

Additional practice questions on material not covered last semester but covered this semester.

1.                   Which of the following statements is(are) correct?

 

A.     The existence of excess capacity lowers the AFN.

B.     Economies of scale leads to less-than–proportional asset increases.

C.     An increase in the profit margin would lower the AFN.

D.     Only b and c are correct.

E.     Only a, b and c are correct.

 

2.                   Harbuck's Coffee recently reported sales of $100 million, and net income equal to $5 million.  The company has $70 million in total assets.  Over the next year, the company is forecasting a 20 percent increase in sales. Since the company is at full capacity, its assets must increase in proportion to sales.  The company also estimates that if sales increase 20 percent, spontaneous liabilities will increase by $2 million.  If the company’s sales increase, its profit margin will remain at its current level.  The company’s dividend payout ratio is 40 percent.  Based on the AFN formula, how much additional capital must the company raise in order to support the 20 percent increase in sales?

 

A.     $ 2.0 million

B.     $ 6.0 million

C.     $ 8.4 million

D.     $ 9.6 million

E.      $14.0 million


 

3.                  You have recently been hired to improve the performance of Multiplex Corporation which has been experiencing a severe cash shortage.  As one part of your analysis, you want to determine the firm's cash conversion cycle.  Using the following information and a 365-day year, what is your estimate of the firm's current cash conversion cycle?

 

Average inventory = $120,000

Annual sales = $600,000

Accounts receivable = $160,000

Accounts payable = $25,000

Cost of Sales = $360,000

Purchases credit terms:  net 30 days

Receivables credit terms:  net 50 days

 

 

 

4.                  Vandalay Industries has a cash conversion cycle of 42 days.  They take 30 days to pay their accounts payable and 32 days to sell out their aver age inventory.  The company's sales are $1,800,000, profit margin is 10% and equity is $1,000,000.

 

  1. What are Vandalay's receivables (assume a 365-day year)?

 

 

 

  1. Imagine Vandalay wanted to reduce their average collection period (receivables conversion period) to 30 days (assume a 365-day year) and wanted to used the freed up money from the lower investment in receivables to reduce their equity.  What would Vandalay's new return on equity be assuming the company would suffer no reduction is sales or net income?

 

CATERPILLAR INC

 

 

 

Ticker:CAT

 

 

 

Exchange:NYSE

 

 

 

 

 

Annual Balance Sheet (000$)

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

Fiscal Year Ending

12/31/1998

12/31/1997

12/31/1996

Cash

360,000

292,000

487,000

Mkrtable Securities

NA

NA

NA

Receivables

7,176,000

5,991,000

5,222,000

Inventories

2,842,000

2,603,000

2,222,000

Other Current Assets

1,081,000

928,000

852,000

Total Current Assets

11,459,000

9,814,000

8,783,000

Net Prop & Equip

4,866,000

4,058,000

3,767,000

Invest & Adv To Subs

773,000

751,000

701,000

Other Non-Cur Assets

5,143,000

4,015,000

3,508,000

Deferred Charges

955,000

1,040,000

1,093,000

Intangibles

1,241,000

228,000

233,000

Deposits & Oth Asset

691,000

850,000

643,000

Total Assets

25,128,000

20,756,000

18,728,000

 

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Notes Payable

809,000

484,000

1,192,000

Accounts Payable

3,558,000

3,358,000

2,858,000

Cur Long Term Debt

2,239,000

1,142,000

1,180,000

Accrued Expenses

1,217,000

1,128,000

1,010,000

Income Taxes

15,000

175,000

142,000

Other Current Liab

107,000

92,000

76,000

Total Current Liab

7,945,000

6,379,000

6,458,000

Deferred Charges/Inc

58,000

58,000

48,000

Long Term Debt

9,404,000

6,942,000

5,087,000

Other Long Term Liab

2,590,000

2,698,000

3,019,000

Total Liabilities

19,997,000

16,077,000

14,612,000

Common Stock Net

1,063,000

1,071,000

881,000

Capital Surplus

NA

NA

NA

Retained Earnings

NA

NA

NA

Treasury Stock

2,056,000

1,513,000

831,000

Other Equities

6,124,000

5,121,000

4,066,000

Shareholder Equity

5,131,000

4,679,000

4,116,000

Tot Liab & Net Worth

25,128,000

20,756,000

18,728,000

 

CATERPILLAR INC

Annual Income Statement (000$)

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ending

12/31/1998

12/31/1997

12/31/1996

Net Sales

20,977,000

18,925,000

16,522,000

Cost of Goods

15,031,000

13,374,000

11,832,000

Gross Profit

5,946,000

5,551,000

4,690,000

R & D Expenditures

643,000

528,000

410,000

Sell Gen & Admin Exp

2,561,000

2,232,000

1,993,000

Inc Bef Dep & Amort

2,742,000

2,791,000

2,287,000

Depreciation & Amort

NA

NA

NA

Non-Operating Inc

185,000

202,000

143,000

Interest Expense

753,000

580,000

489,000

Income Before Tax

2,174,000

2,413,000

1,941,000

Prov For Inc Taxes

665,000

796,000

613,000

Other Income

4,000

48,000

33,000

Net Income

1,513,000

1,665,000

1,361,000

Outstanding Shares

357,198

368,010

380,702

 


Fin 254 Spring 2000 Exam 2 Answer Key

Form A (#1-14 are 4 pts. each, and #15-30 are 5 pts. each)

1.B

2.D

3.A

4.A

5.A

6.D

7.A

8.A

9.B

10.D

11.C

12.C

13.A

14.E

15.D

16.C

17.E

18.E

19.D

20.B

21.A

22.D

23.D

24.C

25.B

26.D

27.D