Question

Klein Cosmetics has a profit margin of 5.0%, a total assets turnover ratio of 1.5 times, no debt and therefore an equity multiplier of 1.0, and an ROE of 7.5%. The CFO recommends that the firm borrow money, use the funds to buy back stock, and raise the equity multiplier to 2.0. The size of the firm (assets) would not change. She thinks that operations would not be affected, but interest on the new debt would lower the profit margin to 4.5%. This would probably be a good move, as it would increase the ROE from 7.5% to 13.5%.

a. True
b. False

Answer 1

A. True

Step-by-step explanation:

The equity multiplier shows the amount of assets that are financed or owed by the shareholders. By increasing the equity multiplier a company can increase its return on equity.