Question

Firms HL and LL are identical except for their financial leverage ratios and the interest rates they pay on debt. Each has $10 million in invested capital, has $1.5 million of EBIT, and is in the 25% federal-plus-state tax bracket. Firm HL, however, has a debt-to-capital ratio of 55% and pays 11% interest on its debt, whereas LL has a 30% debt-to-capital ratio and pays only 10% interest on its debt. Neither firm uses preferred stock in its capital structure. Calculate the return on invested capital (ROIC) for each firm.

Answer 1

0.1125 or 11.25% for each firm

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that,

Each has $10 million in invested capital,

$1.5 million of EBIT

25% federal-plus-state tax bracket

ROIC for LL:

= [EBIT × (1 - tax rate)] ÷ invested capital

= [1.5 × (1 - 25%)] ÷ 10

= 0.1125 or 11.25%

ROIC for HL

= [EBIT × (1 - tax rate)] ÷ invested capital

= [1.5 × (1 - 25%)] ÷ 10

= 0.1125 or 11.25%

Therefore, the return on invested capital (ROIC) for each firm is 11.25%