Question

Estimating Components of both WACC and DDM Analysts estimate the cost of debt capital for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is 2.13% and that its cost of equity capital is 4.1%. Assume that ABT's marginal tax rate is 36%, the risk-free rate is 5.3%, the market risk premium is 5.7%, the ABT market price is $47.73 per common share, and its dividends are $1.26 per common share.

(a) Compute ABT's average borrowing rate and its market beta.
(b) Assume that its dividends continue at the current level in perpetuity.

Answer 1

a. Average borrowing rate= debt cost=2.13

Beta = 4.1-5.3/5.7= -0.2105

b.

Equity cost =dividend /price=1.26/47.73=0.0264= 2.64%