Final answer:
The growth rate that investors must expect for the firm is approximately 19.04%.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formula for finding the growth rate of a firm is:
Growth Rate = (Dividends per Share / Stock Price) + Expected Dividend Growth Rate
In this case, the dividends per share is $1.69 and the stock price is $24, so the first part of the formula is:
(1.69 / 24)
To find the expected dividend growth rate, we'll use the required rate of return. The required rate of return is 12%, so the second part of the formula is:
0.12
Now we can calculate the growth rate:
0.0704 + 0.12 = 0.1904
So, the investors must expect a growth rate of approximately 19.04% for the firm.