In: Finance
Phil's Carvings, Inc. wants to have a weighted average cost of capital of 9.5 percent. The firm has an aftertax cost of debt of 6.5 percent and a cost of equity of 12.75 percent. What debt-equity ratio is needed for the firm to achieve their targeted weighted average cost of capital?
a. .67
b. .84
c. .92
d. .76
e. 1.08
Let weight of Debt = x, then weight of Equity = 1-x.
So, Weighted average cost of capital,
WACC = (1-x)*12.75% + x*6.5% = 9.5%
By solving the above equation, we get x = 0.52
Hence, weight of Debt = 0.52 and weight of equity = 0.48
Debt equity ratio = weight of debt/weight of equity = 0.52/0.48 = 1.08
Option e is correct