In: Finance
Firms HL and LL are identical except for their financial leverage ratios and the interest rates they pay on debt. Each has $30 million in invested capital, has $6 million of EBIT, and is in the 40% 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 40% debt-to-capital ratio and pays only 10% interest on its debt. Neither firm uses preferred stock in its capital structure.