Final answer:
CDB Industries' estimated cost of equity is 12.08%, calculated using the CAPM formula by adding the risk-free rate (3.5%) to beta (1.10) multiplied by the market risk premium (7.8%).
Step-by-step explanation:
To estimate CDB Industries' cost of equity using the CAPM (Capital Asset Pricing Model), we can use the formula: Cost of Equity = Risk-Free Rate + Beta * Market Risk Premium. Here, the risk-free rate is the yield on T-bills, which is given as 3.5%. CDB's beta is 1.10, and the market risk premium is 7.8%. By inserting these values into the formula, we get:
Cost of Equity = 3.5% + 1.10 * 7.8%
To find the percentage, we calculate 1.10 * 7.8% = 8.58%, and then add the risk-free rate to get 3.5% + 8.58% = 12.08%.
Thus, based on the CAPM, the company's cost of equity is 12.08%.