In: Finance
The following table gives Foust Company's earnings per share for the last 10 years. The common stock, 8.6 million shares outstanding, is now (1/1/17) selling for $77 per share. The expected dividend at the end of the current year (12/31/17) is 50% of the 2016 EPS. Because investors expect past trends to continue, g may be based on the historical earnings growth rate. (Note that 9 years of growth are reflected in the 10 years of data.)
Year | EPS | Year | EPS | |
2007 | $3.90 | 2012 | $5.73 | |
2008 | 4.21 | 2013 | 6.19 | |
2009 | 4.55 | 2014 | 6.68 | |
2010 | 4.91 | 2015 | 7.22 | |
2011 | 5.31 | 2016 | 7.80 |
The current interest rate on new debt is 9%; Foust's marginal tax rate is 40%; and its target capital structure is 30% debt and 70% equity.