Final answer:
The company's cost of preferred stock is calculated by dividing the constant annual dividend by the price per share, resulting in 6.64% for Barton Industries.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the cost of preferred stock for Barton Industries, we use the following formula: Cost of Preferred Stock = Annual Dividend Per Share / Price Per Share. Given the annual dividend is $3.72 per share and the stock price is $56 per share, the calculation is $3.72 / $56. Despite the firm's marginal tax rate being 25%, taxes do not usually affect the cost of preferred stock as dividends on preferred stocks are not tax-deductible.
Therefore, the cost of preferred stock for Barton Industries is 0.0664, or 6.64% when expressed as a percentage.