Question

Investors require an after-tax rate of return of 10% on their stock investments. Assume that the tax rate on dividends is 30% while capital gains escape taxation. A firm will pay a $2 per share dividend 1 year from now, after which the firm's stock is expected to sell at a price of $30.

Required:
a. Find the current price of the stock.
b. Find the expected before-tax rate of return for a 1-year holding period.
c. Now suppose that the dividend will be $3 per share. If the expected after-tax rate of return is still 10%, and investors still expect the stock to sell at $20 in 1 year, at what price must the stock now sell?
d. What is the before-tax of return? Why is it now higher than in part (b)?

Answer 1

a. $28.5

b. 12.28%

c. $29.18

d. 13.09%

Step-by-step explanation:

a. let current price = p

p*1.10 = 2(1-0.3)+30

= 1.4+30/1.10

= 31.4/1.10

= 28.5

the current price of the stock is approximately 28.5 dollars

b. (30+2 /28.5)-1

= 32/28.5 - 1

= 0.1228

= 12.28%

expected before tax rate is 12.28%

c. 3(1-0.3)+30 / 1.10

= 3*0.7+30/1.10

= $29.18

d. before tax rate of return

= (3$ + 30-29.18)/29.18

= 0.1309

= 13.09%

it is now higher here given that given that a greater dividend causes more tax burden.