Economics/Finance

Homework assignment..please explain each answer due on Monday at 7am

 

Chapter 6

Multiple-choice questions:

1, 3

Individual problems:

6-4 and 6-6

 

Chapter 7

Multiple-choice questions:

6, 10

Individual problems:

7-4, 7-5

 

Chapter 8

Multiple-choice questions:

2, 10

Individual problems:

8-1, 8-5

 

Chapter 9

Multiple-choice questions:

7, 8

Individual problems:

9-3 (hint: use the formula (P-MC)/P=1/|elasticity|, twice), 9-6

Caledonia Products Integrative Problem

Analyzing Project Cash Flows

12.1 Identifying Incremental Cash

Flows (pgs. 380–382)

12.2 Forecasting Project Cash

Flows (pgs. 383–389)

12.3 Inflation and Capital

Budgeting (pgs. 389–390)

12.4 Replacement Project Cash

Flows (pgs. 390–394)

Objective 1. Identify incremental cash flows that are relevant to project valuation.

Objective 3. Evaluate the effect of inflation on project cash flows.

Objective 4. Calculate the incremental cash flows for replacement-type investments.

Objective 2. Calculate and forecast project cash flows for expansion-type investments.

Part 1 Introduction to Financial Management (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)

Part 2 Valuation of Financial Assets (Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)

Part 3 Capital Budgeting (Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14)

Part 4 Capital Structure and Dividend Policy (Chapters 15, 16)

Part 5 Liquidity Management and Special Topics in Finance (Chapters 17, 18, 19, 20)

C H

A P

T E

R 1 2

Chapter Outline

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

Forecasting Sales of Hybrid Automobiles In 2001, when Toyota introduced the first-generation model of its gas-electric powered hybrid car, the Prius, it seemed more like a science experiment than real competition for auto industry market share. Toyota’s decision to introduce the Prius and enter the hybrid car market was particularly difficult to eval- uate because the cash flows were so difficult to forecast. Revenues from the Prius would depend largely upon how many buyers the newly designed hybrids drew away from traditionally powered cars—a number that would be strongly influenced by the future price of gasoline. Moreover, some of the hybrid sales would come from customers who would have otherwise bought another Toyota model. These are difficult issues for any firm to face; however, they are issues a financial manager must address to make an informed decision about the introduction of an innovative new product.

379

In this chapter, we calculate investment cash flows and discuss methods that can be used to develop cash flow forecasts. It is not always obvious what constitutes a relevant cash flow, and we of- fer some guidelines that are designed to avoid some of the more

common mistakes in valuing investments. In particular, we will stress that for the purpose of valuation, as we learned from Principle 3: Cash Flows Are the Source of Value.P

Principle 3 AppliedP IS

B N

1- 25

6- 14

78 5-

0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

380 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Regardless of Your Major…

Cash flow forecasting frequently involves more than just the finance specialists in the firm. In practice, teams of technical, marketing, ac- counting, and other specialists often work to- gether to develop cash flow forecasts for large investments. For example, major airlines are now beginning to provide Internet access on

their flights. The idea is that for a fee of, say, $10 per flight, a customer can buy wireless access to the Internet while in-flight. However, the airline must overcome a number of hurdles to offer this

service. There are technical issues related to both the hardware that must be installed on the aircraft and the infrastructure required to support access to the Internet—and all of this costs money. Then there is the question of how much revenue the airline would receive from this

service. Consequently, for the airline to analyze the decision to include in-flight Internet access, it needs a team that includes technical staff, such as engineers, to address the cost of installing and maintaining the service; marketing personnel to estimate customer acceptance rates and revenues; and a financial analyst to combine the various cost and revenue estimates into a proj- ect evaluation.

Your Turn: See Study Question 12–2.

“The Internet on Airline Flights—

Making It Happen”

12.1 Identifying Incremental Cash Flows When a firm takes on a new investment it does so in the anticipation that it will change the firm’s future cash flows. So when we are evaluating whether to undertake the investment, as we learned from Principle 3: Cash Flows Are the Source of Value, we consider the cash flows that add value to the firm and thus, add value for the shareholders. In particular we con- sider what we will refer to as the incremental cash flow associated with the investment—that is, the additional cash flow a firm receives from taking on a new project.

To understand this concept of incremental cash flows, suppose that you recently opened a small convenience store. The store has been a big success and you are offered the opportu- nity to rent space in a strip mall six blocks away to open a second convenience store. To eval- uate this opportunity, you begin by calculating the costs of the initial investment and the cash flows from the investment in exactly the same way you evaluated the initial site. However, be- fore calculating the NPV of this new opportunity, you start to think about how adding a sec- ond location will affect your sales in the initial location. To what extent will you generate business by simply stealing business from your initial location? Cash flows that are generated by stealing customers from your initial location are clearly worth less to you than cash flows generated by stealing customers from your competitors.

This example serves to emphasize that the proper way to look at the cash flows from the second convenience store involves calculating the incremental cash flows generated by the new store. That is, the cash flows for the second store should be calculated by comparing the total cash flows from two stores less the total cash flows without the second store. More generally, we define incremental project cash flows as follows:

(12–1)

Thus, to find the incremental cash flow for a project, we take the difference between the firm’s cash flows if the new investment is, and is not, undertaken. This may sound simple enough, but there are a number of circumstances in which estimating this incremental cash flow can be very challenging, requiring the analyst to carefully consider each potential source of cash flow.

Incremental Project Cash Flows

� aFirm Cash Flows with the Project b � a Firm Cash Flowswithout the Project b ISBN

1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 381

Guidelines for Forecasting Incremental Cash Flows In this section we focus on some simple guidelines for proper identification of incremental cash flows for a project. As we will see, this is not always easy to do, so it is helpful to have a set of basic guidelines to help us avoid some common mistakes.

Sunk Costs Are Not Incremental Cash Flows Sunk costs are those costs that have already been incurred or are going to be incurred regard- less of whether or not the investment is undertaken. An example would be the cost of a mar- ket research study or a pilot program. These costs are not incremental cash flows resulting from the acceptance of the investment because they will be incurred in any case. For example, in the convenience store example just discussed, if last year you spent $1,000 getting an appraisal of the prospective site for the second store, this expenditure is not relevant to the decision we have to make today, because you already spent that money. The cost of the appraisal is a sunk cost since the money has already been spent and cannot be recovered whether or not you build the second convenience store.

Overhead Costs Are Generally Not Incremental Cash Flows Overhead expenses such as the cost of heat, light, and rent often occur regardless of whether we accept or reject a particular project. In these instances, overhead expenses are not a rele- vant consideration when evaluating project cash flows.

To illustrate, consider the decision as to whether the university bookstore should open a sub shop in an underutilized portion of the bookstore. The bookstore manager estimates that the sub shop will take up one-tenth of the bookstore’s floor space. If the store’s monthly heat and light bill is $10,000, should the manager allocate $1,000 of this cost to the sub shop pro- posal? Assuming the space will be heated and lighted regardless of whether or not it is con- verted into a sub shop, the answer is no.

Look for Synergistic Effects Oftentimes the acceptance of a new project will have an effect on the cash flows of the firm’s other projects or investments. These effects can be either positive or negative, and if these syn- ergistic effects can be anticipated, their costs and benefits are relevant to the project analysis.

Don’t Overlook Positive Synergies

In 2000, GM’s Pontiac division introduced the Aztek, a boldly designed sport-utility vehicle aimed at young buyers. The idea was to sell Azteks, of course, but also to help lure younger customers back into Pontiac’s showrooms. Thus, in evaluating the Aztek, if Pontiac’s analysts were to have focused only on the expected revenues from new Aztek sales, they would have missed the incremental cash flow from new customers who came in to see the Aztek but in- stead purchased another Pontiac automobile.

Another example of a synergistic effect is that of Harley-Davidson’s introduction of the Buell Blast and the Lightning Low XB95—two smaller, lighter motorcycles targeted at younger riders and female riders not yet ready for heavier and more expensive Harley-Davidson bikes. The company had two goals in mind when it introduced the Buell Blast and Lightning Low bikes. First, it was trying to expand its customer base into a new market made up of Genera- tion Xers. Second, it wanted to expand the market for existing products by introducing more people to motorcycling. That is, the Buell Blast and Lightning Low models were offered not only to produce their own sales, but also to ultimately increase the sales of Harley’s heavier cruiser and touring bikes.

Beware of Cash Flows Diverted from Existing Products

An important type of negative synergistic effect comes in the form of revenue cannibalization. This occurs when the offering of a new product draws sales away from an existing product. This is a very real concern, for example, when a firm such as Frito-Lay considers offering a new flavor of Dorito® chips. A supermarket allocates limited shelf space to Frito-Lay’s snack products. So, if a new flavor is offered, it must take space away from existing products. If the new flavor is expected to produce $10 million per year in cash flows, perhaps as much as

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

382 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

$6 million of this cash flow may be at the expense of existing flavors of Doritos®. Conse- quently, we take the resulting $4 million dollars, our incremental cash flow, as the relevant cash flow in evaluating whether or not to introduce the new flavor.

Account for Opportunity Costs In calculating the cash flows of an investment it is important to account for what economists refer to as opportunity costs, the cost of passing up the next best choice when making a deci- sion. To illustrate, consider the convenience store example we introduced earlier. Remember that we were considering whether to open a second location just a few blocks from our first very successful store. Let’s now assume that you have purchased the building in which the sec- ond store is to be located and it has space for two businesses. One of the spaces is occupied by a tanning salon and you are considering opening a second convenience store in the unoccupied space. Since you already own the building and the space needed for the convenience store is currently unused, should you charge the second convenience store business for use of the open space? The answer is no if you have no other foreseeable use for the space. However, what if a local restaurant owner approaches you with a proposal to rent the space for $2,000 a month? If you open the second convenience store, you will then forego the $2,000 per month in rent, and this becomes a very relevant incremental expense since it represents an opportunity cost of putting in the convenience store.

Work in Working Capital Requirements Many times a new project involves an additional investment in working capital. Additional working capital arises out of the fact that cash inflows and outflows from the operations of an investment are often mismatched. That is, inventory is purchased and paid for before it is sold. For example, this may take the form of new inventory to stock a sales outlet or an additional investment in accounts receivable resulting from additional credit sales. Some of the funds needed to finance the increase in inventory and accounts receivable may come from an increase in accounts payable that arises when the firm buys goods on credit. As a result, the actual amount of new investment required by the project is determined by the difference in the sum of the increase in accounts receivables plus inventories less the increase in accounts payable. We will refer to this quantity as net operating working capital. You may recall that in Chapter 3 we defined net working capital as the difference in current assets and current liabil- ities. Net operating working capital is very similar but it focuses on the firm’s accounts receiv- able and inventories compared to accounts payable.

Ignore Interest Payments and Other Financing Costs Although interest payments are incremental to the investments that are partly financed by bor- rowing, we do not include the interest payments in the computation of project cash flows. The reason, as we will discuss more fully in Chapter 14, is that the cost of capital for the project takes into account how the project is financed, including the after-tax cost of any debt that is used in financing the investment. Consequently, when we discount the incremental cash flows back to the present using the cost of capital, we are implicitly accounting for the cost of rais- ing funds to finance the new project (including the after-tax interest expense). Including inter- est expense in both the computation of the project’s cash flows and in the discount rate would amount to counting interest twice.

Before you move on to 12.2

Concept Check | 12.1 1. What makes an investment cash flow relevant to the evaluation of an investment proposal?

2. What are sunk costs?

3. What are some examples of synergistic effects that affect a project’s cash flows?

4. When borrowing the money needed to make an investment, is the interest expense incurred relevant to the analysis of the project? Explain.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 383

12.2 Forecasting Project Cash Flows To analyze an investment and determine whether it adds value to the firm, following Principle 3: Cash Flows Are the Source of Value, we use the project’s free cash flow. Recall from Chapter 3 that a free cash flow is the total amount of cash available for distribution to the creditors who have loaned money to finance the project and to the owners who have invested in the equity of the proj- ect. In practice this cash flow information is compiled from pro forma financial statements. Pro forma financial statements are forecasts of future financial statements. We can calculate free cash flow using Equation (12–2) as follows:

Operating Cash Flow

(12–2)

Net Operating Profit after Taxes or NOPAT

Increase in Capital Expenditures

(CAPEX) �

Increase in Net Operating Working

Capital (NOWC)

Free Cash Flow

� Net Operating Income (Profit)

� Taxes � Depreciation

Expense

Figure 12.1 contains a quick reference guide to the free cash flow calculation, including fur- ther elaborations concerning the specific calculations.

Dealing with Depreciation Expense, Taxes, and Cash Flow When accountants calculate a firm’s taxable income, one of the expenses they subtract out is depreciation. In fact, depreciation has already been deducted from revenues before we calcu- late net operating income. However, depreciation is a non–cash flow expense. If you think about it, depreciation occurs because you bought a fixed asset (for example, you built a plant) in an earlier period, and now, by depreciating the asset, you’re effectively allocating the ex- pense of acquiring the asset over time. However, depreciation is not a cash expense since the

Figure 12.1

A Quick Reference Guide for Calculating an Investment’s Free Cash Flow The annual free cash flow for an investment project is calculated using Equation (12–2):

(12–2)

Net Operating Profit after Taxes or NOPAT

Important Definitions and Concepts:

• Net Operating Income is the profit after deducting the cost of goods sold and all operating expenses (including depreciation expense). Net operating income or net operating profit is also equal to earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) for capital in- vestment projects since projects do not have other (non-operating) sources of income or expense. For firms that have both op- erating and non-operating income and expenses, EBIT differs from net operating income by the amount of these non-operating sources of income and expense.

• Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT) is equal to the firm’s net operating profit minus taxes on net operating profit. Note that we do not deduct interest expense before computing the corporate income taxes owed because the tax deductibility of interest is accounted for in the computation of the discount rate or the weighted average cost of capital, which is discussed in detail in Chapter 14.

• Depreciation Expense is allocation of the cost of fixed assets to the period when the assets are used.

• Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) is the periodic expenditure of money for new capital equipment that generally occurs at the time the investment is undertaken (i.e., in year 0). However, many investments require periodic expenditures over the life of the investment to repair or replace worn out capital equipment. Finally, if the equipment has a salvage value then this becomes a cash inflow in the final year of the project’s life.

• Change in Net Operating Working Capital (NOWC) represents changes in the balance of accounts receivable plus inven- tories less accounts payable. Any changes in this quantity represent either the need to invest more cash or an opportunity to extract cash from the project.

>> END FIGURE 12.1

Free Cash Flow

� Net Operating Income (Profit)

� Taxes � Depreciation

Expense �

Increase in Capital Expenditures

(CAPEX) �

Increase in Net Operating Working Capital (NOWC)

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

384 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

actual cash expense occurred when the asset was acquired. As a result, the firm’s net operat- ing income understates cash flows by the amount of depreciation expense that is deducted for the period. Therefore, we’ll want to compensate for this by adding depreciation back into net operating income when calculating cash flows.

For our purposes in this chapter, depreciation is calculated using a simplified version of the straight-line method. Specifically, we calculate annual depreciation for a piece of plant or equipment by taking its initial cost (including the cost of any equipment plus shipping costs and other costs incurred when installing the equipment) and dividing this total by the depre- ciable life of the equipment. If the equipment has an expected salvage value at the end of its useful life this is deducted from the initial cost before determining the annual depreciation ex- pense. For example, if a firm were to purchase a piece of equipment for $100,000 and paid an additional $20,000 in shipping and installation expenses, then the initial outlay for the equip- ment and its depreciable cost would be $120,000. If the equipment is expected to last 5 years at which time it will have a salvage value of $40,000 then the annual depreciation expense would be $16,000 � ($100,000 � 20,000 � 40,000) � 5 years.

In the Appendix to this chapter we discuss the modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS), which is used for most tangible depreciable property. This method is typically used by firms to compute their tax liability but straight-line is used for financial reporting to the public.

Four-Step Procedure for Calculating Project Cash Flows Our objective is to identify incremental cash flows for the project, or changes to the firm’s cash flows as a result of taking the project. To do this, we forecast cash flows for future periods and then estimate the value of the project using the investment criteria discussed in the previous chapter. As we introduce these calculations, keep in mind the guidelines introduced in the pre- vious section dealing with sunk costs, synergistic effects, and opportunity costs. In order to es- timate project cash flows for future periods, we use the following four-step procedure:

Step 1. Estimating a Project’s Operating Cash Flows

Step 2. Calculating a Project’s Working Capital Requirements

Step 3. Calculating a Project’s Capital Expenditure Requirements

Step 4. Calculating a Project’s Free Cash Flow

In the pages that follow we will discuss each of these steps in detail.

Step 1: Estimating a Project’s Operating Cash Flows Operating cash flow is simply the sum of the first three terms found in Equation 12–2. Specif- ically, operating cash flow for year t is defined in Equation 12–3:

(12–3)

NOPATt

There are two observations we should make regarding the computation of operating cash flow:

• First, our estimate of cash flows from operations begins with an estimate of net op- erating income. However, when calculating net operating income we subtract out depre- ciation expense since it is a tax deductible expense. Thus to estimate the cash flow the firm has earned from its operations we first calculate the firm’s tax liability based on net oper- ating income and then add back depreciation expense.

• Second, when we calculate the increase in taxes, we ignore interest expenses. Even if the project is financed with debt, we do not subtract out the increased interest payments. Cer- tainly there is a cost to money, but we are accounting for this cost when we discount the free cash flows back to present. If we were to subtract out any increase in interest expenses and then discount those cash flows back to the present, we would be double counting the inter- est expense—once when we subtracted it out, and once again when we discounted the cash flows back to the present. In addition, when we calculate the increased taxes from taking on the new project, we calculate those taxes from the change in net operating income so as not to allow any increase in interest expense to impact our tax calculations. The important point

Operating Cash Flowt

� Net Operating

Income (or Profit)t � Taxest �

Depreciation Expenset

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 385

Checkpoint 12.1

Forecasting a Project’s Operating Cash Flow The Crockett Clothing Company, located in El Paso, TX, owns and operates a clothing factory across the Mexican border in Juarez. The Juarez factory imports materials into Mexico for assembly and then exports the assembled products back to the United States without having to pay duties or tariffs. This type of factory is commonly referred to as a maquiladora.

Crockett is considering the purchase of an automated sewing machine that will cost $200,000 and is expected to operate for five years, after which time it is not expected to have any value. The investment is expected to generate $360,000 in additional revenues for the firm during each of the five years of the project’s life. Due to the expanded sales, Crockett expects to have to expand its investment in accounts receivable by $60,000 and inventories by $36,000. These investments in working capital will be partially offset by an increase in the firm’s accounts payable of $18,000, which makes the increase in net operating working capital equal to $78,000 in year zero. Note that this investment will be returned at the end of year five as inventories are sold, receivables are collected, and payables are repaid.

The project will also result in cost of goods sold equal to 60% of revenues while incurring other annual cash operat- ing expenses of $5,000 per year. In addition, the depreciation expense for the machine is $40,000 per year. This depre- ciation expense is one-fifth of the initial investment of $200,000 where the estimated salvage value is zero at the end of its five-year life. Profits from the investment will be taxed at a 30% tax rate and the firm uses a 20% required rate of return. Cal- culate the operating cash flow.

STEP 1: Picture the problem

Operating cash flows only encompass the revenues and operating expenses (after-taxes) corresponding to the operation of the asset. Therefore, they only begin with the end of the first year of operations (year 1). The oper- ating cash flow then is determined by the revenues less operating expenses for years 1 through 5.

OCF1 OCF2 OCF3 OCF4 OCF5

0 1 2 3 4 5Time Period

Operating Cash Flow

Years

Operating cash flow (OCF) for years 1 through 5 equals the sum of additional revenues less operating expenses (cash expenses and depreciation) less taxes plus depreciation expense.

The following list summarizes what we know about the investment opportunity:

Equipment cost or CAPEX (today) $(200,000) Project life 5 years Salvage Value 0 Depreciation expense $ 40,000 per year Cash operating expenses $ (5,000) per year Revenues (Year 1) $ 360,000 per year Growth rate for revenues 0% per year Cost of Goods Sold/Revenues 60% Investment in Net Operating Working Capital (Year 0) $ (78,000) Required rate of return 20% Tax rate 30%

STEP 2: Decide on a solution strategy

Using Equation (12–3), we calculate operating cash flow as the sum of NOPAT and depreciation expense as follows:

(12–3)

NOPAT

STEP 3: Solve

The project produces $360,000 in revenues annually and cost of goods sold equals 60% of revenues or $(216,000) leaving gross profits of $144,000. Subtracting cash operating expenses of $5,000 per year and de- preciation expenses of $40,000 per year we get net operating income of $99,000. Subtracting taxes of $29,700

Operating Cash Flow

� Net Operating

Income (or Profit) � Taxes �

Depreciation Expense

(12.1 CONTINUED >> ON NEXT PAGE)

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

386 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Operating Cash Flow Calculation Income Statement Calculation

Revenues Revenues

Less: Cost of Goods Sold Less: Cost of Goods Sold

Equals: Gross Profit Equals: Gross Profit

Less: Operating Expenses (including depreciation) Less: Operating Expenses (including depreciation)

Equals: Net Operating Income (Profit) Equals: Net Operating Income (Profit)

Less: Taxes based on Net Operating Income Less: Interest Expense

Equals: Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT) Earnings before Taxes (EBT)

Plus: Depreciation Expense Less: Taxes based on EBT

Operating Cash Flow Net Income

leaves net operating profit of $69,300. Finally adding back depreciation expense this gives us operating cash flow of $109,300 per year for years 1 through 5:

D iff

er en

ce s d

STEP 4: Analyze

The project contributes $99,000 to the firm’s net operating income (before taxes), and if the project operates ex- actly as forecast here, this will be the observed impact of the project on the net operating income on the firm’s income statement. Of course, in a world where the future is uncertain, this will not be the outcome. As such, we might want to analyze the consequences of lower revenues and higher costs. For example, if project revenues were to drop to $300,000, the operating cash flow would drop to only $92,500. We will have more to say about how analysts typically address project risk analysis in Chapter 13.

STEP 5: Check yourself

Crockett Clothing Company is reconsidering its sewing machine investment in light of a change in its expecta- tions regarding project revenues. The firm’s management wants to know the impact of a decrease in expected revenues from $360,000 to $240,000 per year. What would be the project’s operating cash flows under the re- vised revenue estimate?

ANSWER: Operating cash flow � $75,700.

to remember here is that no interest or other costs of financing are deducted in determining the project’s free cash flow.

The format we use in calculating a project’s operating cash flow looks a lot like a typical income statement. The left-hand column below depicts the calculation of operating cash flow whereas the right hand column depicts the calculation of net income using a traditional income statement:

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Project Revenues (growing at 0% per year) $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 $360,000 � Cost of Goods Sold (60% of revenues) (216,000) (216,000) (216,000) (216,000) (216,000) � Gross Profit $144,000 $144,000 $144,000 $144,000 $144,000 � Cash Operating Expenses (fixed at $5,000 per year) (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) � Depreciation ($200,000/5 years) (40,000) (40,000) (40,000) (40,000) (40,000) � Net Operating Income $ 99,000 $ 99,000 $ 99,000 $ 99,000 $ 99,000 � Taxes (30%) (29,700) (29,700) (29,700) (29,700) (29,700) � Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT) $ 69,300 $ 69,300 $ 69,300 $ 69,300 $ 69,300 � Depreciation 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 � Operating Cash Flow $109,300 $109,300 $109,300 $109,300 $109,300

Your Turn: For more practice, do related Study Problems 12–3 through 12–18 at the end of this chapter. >> END Checkpoint 12.1

Note: Operating Expenses include both cash expenses and depreciation expense.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 387

Without the Project (A)

With the Project (B)

Difference (B � A)

Accounts receivable $600,000 $660,000 $60,000 Inventory 390,000 426,000 36,000 Accounts payable 180,000 198,000 18,000

To compute operating cash flow in the left-hand column above we begin with Revenues (just like the income statement). Next, we subtract Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Ex- penses to calculate Net Operating Income (Profit). To this point the calculation of operating cash flow looks just like the income statement in the right-hand column. From this point for- ward the calculation of operating cash flow deviates from the standard form of the income statement. Specifically, to calculate operating cash flow we estimate taxes based on the firm’s net operating profit. Deducting taxes from net operating profit gives us an estimate of Net Op- erating Profit after Taxes, or NOPAT. Finally, since depreciation expense is a non-cash operat- ing expense and was subtracted before the tax calculation, we add back the annual depreciation expense to NOPAT to estimate Operating Cash Flow.

Step 2: Calculating a Project’s Working Capital Requirements When a firm invests in a new project, it often leads to an increase in sales that require the firm to extend credit, which means that the firm’s accounts receivable balance will grow. In addi- tion, new projects often lead to a need to increase the firm’s investment in inventories. Both the increase in accounts receivable and the increase in inventories mean that the firm must in- vest more cash in the business. This is a cash outflow. However, if the firm is able to finance some or all of its inventories using trade credit, this offsets the effects of the increased invest- ment in receivables and inventories. The difference in the increased accounts receivable plus inventories, less the increase in accounts payable (trade credit), indicates just how much cash the firm must come up with to cover the project’s additional working capital requirements.

To calculate the increase in net operating working capital we examine the levels of ac- counts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable with and without the project. For the Crockett Clothing Company, let’s assume that the purchase of an automated sewing machine described in Checkpoint 12.1 would cause the following changes:

We can now use Equation (12–4) to calculate Crockett’s additional investment in working capital as follows:

(12–4)

So to meet the needs of the firm for working capital in year 1 Crockett must invest $78,000. Although this investment will be made throughout the year, to be conservative we assume that the full $78,000 is invested immediately in year 0. In this particular example, sales do not grow or decline over the five-year life of the investment, so there are no additional investments in working capital in years 1 through 5. However, at the end of year 5, Crockett will collect out- standing receivables, sell down its remaining inventory, and pay off the outstanding balance of its accounts payable, thereby realizing a $78,000 cash inflow at the end of year 5 from its ini- tial investment of $78,000 in net operating working capital made in year 0. In summary, Crock- ett expects to have a cash outflow of $78,000 for working capital in year 0 and receive a cash inflow of $78,000 in year 5 when the project is shut down.

Step 3: Calculating a Project’s Capital Expenditure Requirements Capital expenditures, or CAPEX, is the term we use to refer to the cash the firm spends to purchase fixed assets. As we discussed earlier, for accounting purposes, the cost of a firm’s purchases of long-term assets is not recognized immediately, but is allocated or expensed over the life of the asset by depreciating the investment. Specifically, the difference between the purchase price and the expected salvage value of the investment is calculated as a depre- ciation expense over the life of the asset.

� $60,000 � 36,000 � 18,000 � $78,000

Investment in Net Operating

Working Capital � a Increase in

Accounts Receivable b � a Increase in

Inventories b � a Increase in

Accounts Payable b

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

388 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

We incorporate depreciation into our computation of project cash flow by deducting it from taxable income and then adding it back after taxes have been computed. In this way, the effect of depreciation is simply to reduce the tax liability created by the investment. When the project life is over, the book value of the asset is expected to equal the salvage value. Since the book value and salvage value are equal, there is no taxable gain or loss on the sale, and we simply add the salvage value to the final year’s free cash flow along with the recovery of any net operating working capital.

Step 4: Calculating a Project’s Free Cash Flow Using Equation (12–3), we calculate Crockett Clothing Company’s free cash flows for the five-year life of its investment opportunity in the new automated sewing machine. These cash flows are found below:

Note that in year 0, the free cash flow is simply the sum of the capital expenditure of $200,000 and the investment in net operating working capital of $78,000. The operating cash flows for years one through five are $109,300 and in year 5 we add back the $78,000 invest- ment in net operating working capital, which produces a total free cash flow in this year of $187,300. Finally, note that since the equipment is not expected to have a salvage value, none is added back in year 5.

Computing Project NPV We can now apply the tools we learned in Chapter 11 to evaluate the investment opportunity. If Crockett applies a 20% discount rate or required rate of return to evaluate the sewing ma- chine investment, we can calculate the net present value (NPV) of the investment using Equa- tion (11–1) as follows:

(11–1)

CF0 is the �$278,000 initial cash outlay, k is the required rate of return (20%) used to discount the project’s future cash flows, and CF1 through CF5 are the investment’s free cash flows for years 1 through 5. Substituting for each of these terms in the NPV equation above we get the following:

Based on our estimates of the investment’s cash flows, it appears that Crockett should go ahead and purchase the new automated machine since it offers an expected NPV of $80,220.

NPV � $80,220

$109,300

(1 � .20)4 �

$187,300

(1 � .20)5 NPV � �$278,000 �

$109,300

(1 � .20)1 �

$109,300

(1 � .20)2 �

$109,300

(1 � .20)3 �

NPV � CF0 � CF1

(1 � k)1 �

CF2 (1 � k)2

� CF3

(1 � k)3 �

CF4 (1 � k)4

� CF5

(1 � k)5

Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Project Revenues (growing at 0% per year) $ 360,000 $ 360,000 $ 360,000 $ 360,000 $ 360,000

� Cost of Goods Sold (60% of revenues) (216,000) (216,000) (216,000) (216,000) (216,000)

� Gross Profit $ 144,000 $ 144,000 $ 144,000 $ 144,000 $ 144,000

� Cash Operating Expenses (fixed at $5,000 per year) (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) (5,000) (5,000)

� Depreciation ($200,000 / 5 years) (40,000) (40,000) (40,000) (40,000) (40,000)

� Net Operating Income $ 99,000 $ 99,000 $ 99,000 $ 99,000 $ 99,000

� Taxes (30%) (29,700) (29,700) (29,700) (29,700) (29,700)

� Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT) $ 69,300 $ 69,300 $ 69,300 $ 69,300 $ 69,300

� Depreciation 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000 40,000

� Operating Cash Flow $ 109,300 $ 109,300 $ 109,300 $ 109,300 $ 109,300

less: Increase in CAPEX $(200,000) — — — — —

less: Increase in net operating working capital (78,000) — — — — 78,000

Free Cash Flow (278,000) $ 109,300 $ 109,300 $ 109,300 $ 109,300 $ 187,300

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 389

Before you move on to 12.3

Concept Check | 12.2 1. What does the term free cash flow mean?

2. What are the four steps used to forecast a project’s future cash flows?

3. What is net operating working capital, and how does it affect a project’s cash flows?

4. What is CAPEX, and how does it affect a project’s cash flows?

1While the numbers listed for price and cost per unit have been rounded to four decimal places in this table, the cal- culations for revenue and cost of goods sold have been made without rounding.

1 2 3

Units Sold 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,000,000

Price per unit (inflation rate � 3%) $0.2060 $0.2122 $0.2185

Cost per unit (inflation rate � 8%) $0.1080 $0.1166 $0.1260

Revenues $1,030,000.00 $1,060,900.00 $1,092,727.00

Cost of Goods Sold (540,000.00) (583,200.00) (629,856.00)

Gross Profit $490,000.00 $477,700.00 $462,871.00

.2060 � .20(1.03)

.2185 � .2122(1.03)

.1260 � .1166(1.08)

.1080 � .10(1.08)

12.3 Inflation and Capital Budgeting Since investments are expected to provide cash flows over many years, we cannot overlook the issue of price inflation. Fortunately, we can adjust project revenues and expenses for the antic- ipated effects of inflation. Cash flows that account for future inflation are generally referred to as nominal cash flows. Sometimes analysts calculate what is referred to as real cash flows, which are the cash flows that would occur in the absence of inflation.

When nominal cash flows are used, they should be discounted at the nominal interest rate, which you can recall from Chapter 9 as the rate that we observe in the financial markets. In most cases, firms do use nominal rates of return for the discount rates that are used to evaluate a project, so it is appropriate to also calculate nominal cash flows. However, when firms cal- culate the real cash flows that are generated by a project, the cash flows should be discounted at the real rate of interest, which is the nominal rate of interest adjusted for inflation.

Typically, firms calculate project values by discounting nominal cash flows at nominal rates of interest. Let’s see how nominal cash flows are estimated.

Estimating Nominal Cash Flows Although not stated formally, the cash flows that we have looked at up to now have been nomi- nal cash flows. To illustrate how we can directly incorporate the affects of inflation into our cash flow forecasts, consider the situation faced by the Plantation Chemical Company. The firm pur- chases HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) pellets manufactured by oil refineries and uses them to manufacture the plastic containers used to package milk, fruit juice, and soft drinks. The firm is considering an expansion of one of its plants that makes milk bottles. The new plant will pro- duce 5 million plastic bottles a year. The bottles currently sell for $0.20 each and cost $0.10 each to produce. The price of the bottles is expected to rise at a rate of 3% a year while the HDPE is expected to increase by 8% per year due to restrictions on world crude oil production. We can forecast the gross profit for the proposed investment for each of the next three years as follows:1

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

390 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Before you move on to 12.4

Concept Check | 12.3 1. What is the distinction between nominal and real interest rates?

2. If you forecast nominal cash flows, should you use the nominal or the real discount rate? Why?

12.4 Replacement Project Cash Flows To this point, we have been evaluating project cash flows for an expansion project. An expansion project increases the scope of the firm’s operations, but does not replace any existing assets or operations. In this section, we consider a replacement investment, an acquisition of a new pro- ductive asset that replaces an older, less productive asset. A distinctive feature of many replace- ment investments is that the principal source of investment cash flows comes from cost savings, not new revenues, since the firm already operates an existing asset to generate revenues.

The objective of our analysis of investment cash flows is the same for a replacement project as it was for the expansion projects considered earlier. Specifically, project or investment free cash flow is still defined by Equation (12–3). However, with a replacement project, we must ex- plicitly compare what the firm’s cash flows would be without making a change to the firm’s cash flows with the replacement assets. To perform this analysis, it is helpful to categorize investment cash flows as an initial outlay of CF0 and future cash flows as CF1, CF2, CF3, and so forth.

Category 1: Initial Outlay, CF0 For an expansion project, the initial cash outlay typically includes the immediate cash outflow (CAPEX) necessary to purchase fixed assets and put them in operating order, plus the cost of any increased investment in net operating working capital (NOWC) required by the project. However, when the investment proposal involves the replacement of an existing asset, the com- putation of the initial cash outlay is a bit more complicated because disposing of the existing asset can involve immediate expenses. If the old asset is sold for more than the book value of the asset, this gives rise to a taxable gain on the sale. On the other hand, if the old asset is sold for less than its book value, then a tax deductible loss occurs.

When an existing asset is sold, there are three possible tax scenarios:

• The old asset is sold for a price above the depreciated value. Here the difference be- tween the selling price of the old machine and its depreciated book value is a taxable gain, taxed at the marginal corporate tax rate and subtracted from the CAPEX. For example, as- sume the old machine was originally purchased for $350,000, had a depreciated book value of $100,000 today, and could be sold for $150,000, and assume that the firm’s mar- ginal corporate tax rate is 30 percent. The taxes due from the gain would then be ($150,000 � $100,000) � (.30), or $15,000.

• The old asset is sold for its depreciated value. In this case, no taxes result, as there is neither a gain nor a loss from the asset’s sale.

• The old asset is sold for less than its depreciated value. In this case, the difference be- tween the depreciated book value and the salvage value of the asset is a taxable loss and may be used to offset capital gains. Thus, it results in tax savings and we add it to the CAPEX. For example, if the depreciated book value of the asset is $100,000 and it is sold for $70,000, we have a $30,000 loss. Assuming the firm’s marginal corporate tax rate is 30 percent, the cash inflow from tax savings is ($100,000 � $70,000) � (.30), or $9,000.

Category 2: Annual Cash Flows Annual cash flows for a replacement decision differ from a simple asset acquisition because we must now consider the differential operating cash flow of the new versus the old (replaced) asset.

Note that Gross Profit actually declines over time as the cost of raw materials is inflating more rapidly than the price of the end product.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 391

Changes in Depreciation and Taxes. Once again, we are only interested in any change in taxes that the change in depreciation might bring about—after all, depreciation is not a cash flow expense, but since it is tax deductible it impacts taxes, which are a cash flow item. We want to look at the incremental change in taxes—that is, what the taxes would be if the asset were replaced versus what they would be if the asset were not replaced.

For a replacement project, the firm’s depreciation expense increases by the amount of de- preciation on the new asset but decreases by the amount of the depreciation on the replaced as- set. Since our concern is with incremental changes, we take the new depreciation less the lost depreciation, and that difference would be our incremental change in depreciation. That is what we would use in our cash flow calculations to determine the change in taxes.

Changes in Working Capital. Many replacement projects require an increased investment in working capital. For example, if the new asset has greater capacity than the one it replaces and generates more sales, these new sales, if they are credit sales, will result in an increased investment in accounts receivable. Also, in order to produce and sell the product, the firm may have to increase its investment in inventory, which also requires additional financing. On the other hand, some of this increased investment in inventory is financed by an increase in ac- counts payable, which offsets the outlay for new investment in inventories.

Changes in Capital Spending. The replacement asset will require an outlay at the time of its acquisition but may also require additional capital over its life. We must be careful, how- ever, to net out any additional capital spending requirements of the older, replaced asset when computing project free cash flows. Finally, at the end of the project’s life, there will be a cash inflow equal to the after-tax salvage value of the new asset, if it is expected to have one. Once again, we need to be careful to net out any salvage value that the older asset might have had to get the net cash effect of salvage value.

Replacement Example Checkpoint 12.2 describes an asset replacement problem faced by the Leggett Scrap Metal Company. The company operates a large scrap metal yard that buys junk automobiles, strips them of their valuable parts, and then crushes them in a large press. Leggett is considering the replacement of its largest press with a newer and more efficient model.

Checkpoint 12.2

Calculating Free Cash Flows for a Replacement Investment Leggett Scrap Metal, Inc. operates an auto salvage business in Salem, Oregon. The firm is considering the replacement of one of the presses it uses to crush scrapped automobiles. The following information summarizes the new versus old machine costs:

Machine

New Old

Annual cost of defects $ 20,000 $ 70,000 Net operating income $580,000 $580,000 Book value of equipment 350,000 100,000 Salvage value (today) NA 150,000 Salvage value (Year 5) 50,000 — Shipping cost $ 20,000 NA Installation cost 30,000 NA Remaining project life (years) 5 5 Net operating working capital $ 60,000 $ 60,000 Salaries 100,000 200,000 Fringe benefits 10,000 20,000 Maintenance 60,000 20,000

(12.2 CONTINUED >> ON NEXT PAGE)

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

392 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Leggett faces a 30% marginal tax rate and uses a 15% discount rate to evaluate equipment purchases for its automobile scrap operation.

The appeal of the new press is that it is more automated (requires two fewer employees to operate the machine). The older machine requires four employees with salaries totaling $200,000 and fringe benefits costing $20,000. The new ma- chine cuts this total in half. In addition, the new machine is able to separate out the glass and rubber components of the crushed automobiles, which reduces the annual cost of defects which are $20,000 with the new machine compared to $70,000 for the older model. However, the added automation feature comes at the cost of higher annual maintenance fees of $60,000 compared to only $20,000 for the older press.

Should Leggett replace the older machine with the newer one?

STEP 1: Picture the problem

The automated scrap press machine requires an initial investment to purchase the equipment, which is partially offset by the after-tax proceeds realized from the sale of the older press. In addition, the newer press provides net cash savings to Leggett in years 1 through 5 based on the predicted difference in the costs of operating the two machines. Finally, in year 5 the new press can be sold for an amount equal to its book value of $50,000. The relevant cash flow for analyzing the replacement decision equals the difference in cash flow between the new and old machine as we illustrate below:

CF(New)0 CF(New)1 CF(New)2

Minus

Equals

CF(New)3 CF(New)4 CF(New)5

0 1 2 3 4 5Time Period

Cash Flow (New)

CF(Old)0 CF(Old)1 CF(Old)2 CF(Old)3 CF(Old)4 CF(Old)5Cash Flow (Old)

�CF0 �CF1 �CF2 �CF3 �CF4 �CF5Difference (New − Old)

Years

k = 15%

Where the cash flows to be used in analyzing the replacement decision equal the difference in cash flows of the new and old asset, i.e.,

(12–5)

STEP 2: Decide on a solution strategy

The cash flows of the replacement decision are still calculated using Equation (12–3), which requires that we identify operating cash flows after taxes, capital expenditure (CAPEX) requirements, and required investments in net operating working capital, i.e.,

(12–3)

However, for a replacement decision we focus on the difference in costs and benefits with the new machine ver- sus the old. For this type of problem it is helpful to focus on the initial cash outflow (CF0) and then the annual cash flows including any terminal cash flow resulting from the difference in the salvage values of the two machines in year 5—in this case $50,000 for the new machine compared to $0 for the older machine.

STEP 3: Solve

The initial cash outlay for year 0 reflects the difference in the cost of acquiring the new machine (including ship- ping and installation costs) and the after-tax proceeds Leggett realizes from the sale of the old press, i.e.,

Free Cash Flow

� ° Net OperatingProfit after Taxes (NOPAT)

¢ � °Depreciation Expense

¢ � ° Increase in CapitalExpenditures (CAPEX)

¢ � ° Increase in NetOperating Working Capital (NOWC)

¢

Replacement Cash Flows (¢CF)Year t

� ° Cash Flow forthe New Asset CF (New)Year t

¢ � °Cash Flow forthe Old Asset CF (Old)Year t

¢

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 393

The new press costs $400,000 to purchase and install. This cost is partially offset by the after-tax proceeds from the sale of the older press, which equal $135,000, such that the initial cash outlay is $265,000 � $400,000 � $135,000.

Next we estimate the annual cash flows for years 1 through 5 assuming that the new press is purchased and the older one is sold.

The new press will reduce costs (totaling $160,000 per year) compared to the older press; however, the new press requires an additional $40,000 in maintenance expenses and has $50,000 more depreciation expense. For years 1 through 4, this results in increased after-tax free cash flow of $99,000 per year. In year 5 the new press is salvaged for an estimated $50,000 (recall that this is also the book value of the machine, so there is no gain on the sale and, consequently, there is no tax to be paid).

STEP 4: Analyze

Free cash flows for replacement projects require us to explicitly consider the changes that occur when one as- set is used to replace an existing asset. The replacement decision in this example resulted only in cost savings since it did not add to the firm’s capacity to generate revenues. However, this will not always be the case. The new or replacement asset might have greater capacity, in which case additional revenues might be generated in addition to cost savings. Note, too, that where new revenues are produced, there will likely be an increase in the firm’s investment in net operating working capital.

(12.2 CONTINUED >> ON NEXT PAGE)

Analysis of the Initial Outlay Year 0

New Machine Purchase price $(350,000) Shipping cost (20,000) Installation cost (30,000) Total installed cost of purchasing the new press $(400,000)

Old Machine Sale price $150,000 less: Tax on gain � [($150,000 � 100,000) � .30] (15,000) After-tax proceeds from the sale of the old press $135,000

Operating Working Capital $ 0 Initial Cash Flow (265,000)

Analysis of the Annual Cash Flows Year 1-4 Year 5

Cash inflows Increase in operating income $ 0 Reduced salaries $100,000 Reduced defects 50,000 Reduced fringe benefits 10,000

$ 160,000 $160,000 Cash outflows

Increased maintenance $ (40,000) Increased depreciation (50,000)

(90,000) $ (90,000) Net Operating Income $ 70,000 $ 70,000 less: Taxes (21,000) (21,000) Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) $ 49,000 $ 49,000 plus: Depreciation 50,000 50,000 Operating cash flow $ 99,000 $ 99,000 less: Increase in net operating working capital 0 0 less: Increase in CAPEX 0 50,000 Free Cash Flows $ 99,000 $149,000

Note: Capital expenditures (CAPEX) are generally outflows, hence subtracted out. However, when a project has a salvage value at the end of it useful life, the CAPEX takes on a positive value and is added to the free cash flows in the project’s final year.

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

394 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Cash flows for the replacement decision are forecast in Checkpoint 12.2 and indicate that Leggett will have to invest an additional $265,000 to purchase the new press. This figure cap- tures the deduction of the $150,000 the firm will receive from the sale of the older model. In addition, Leggett expects to generate additional free cash flows in years 1 through 5 equal to $99,000 from the savings in personnel costs and reduced defects. Finally, in year 5 the sale of the replacement press is expected to generate an additional $50,000 in after-tax cash flows for a total free cash flow of $149,000 � $99,000 � 50,000.

We are now prepared to estimate the NPV of the replacement proposal as follows:

Thus, we estimate that the NPV of the replacement opportunity is $91,722, which suggests that the added cost savings from the newer press more than offset the cost of making the replacement.

� $91,722

NPV � �$265,000 � $99,000

(1 � .15)1 �

$99,000

(1 � .15)2 �

$99,000

(1 � .15)3 �

$99,000

(1 � .15)4 �

$149,00011 � .15 2 5

Machine

New Old

Annual cost of defects $ 20,000 $ 70,000 Net operating income $600,000 $580,000 Book value of equipment 350,000 100,000 Salvage value (today) NA 150,000 Salvage value (Year 5) 50,000 — Shipping cost $ 20,000 NA Installation cost 30,000 NA Remaining project life (years) 5 5 Net operating working capital $ 80,000 $ 60,000 Salaries 100,000 200,000 Fringe benefits 10,000 20,000 Maintenance 60,000 20,000

STEP 5: Check yourself

Forecast the project cash flows for the replacement press for Leggett where the new press results in net oper- ating income per year of $600,000 compared to $580,000 for the old machine. This increase in revenues also means that the firm will also have to increase its net operating working capital by $20,000. The information for the replacement opportunity is summarized below:

Estimate the initial cash outlay required to replace the old machine with the new one and estimate the annual cash flows for years 1 through 5.

ANSWER: Initial cash outflow � �$285,000; cash flows for years 1–4 � $113,000; and cash flow for year 5 � $183,000.

Your Turn: For more practice, do related Study Problems 12–25 through 12–27 at the end of this chapter. >> END Checkpoint 12.2

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 395

Before you begin end of chapter material

Concept Check | 12.4 1. What is a replacement investment?

2. What is the relevant depreciation expense when you are analyzing a replacement decision?

Australia

USA

Mexico

Brazil

Argentina

North Africa Morocco

Spain

Norway England Sweden

Finland

Denmark Germany

Russia

South Africa

Malaysia

Turkey China

Thailand

France Italy

Sweden Denmark

Italy

Philippines

Japan South Korea

Your Turn: See Study Question 12–12.

Finance in a Flat World Entering New Markets

When measuring free cash flow, it is important to think glob- ally. We should consider threats from foreign competition as well as opportunities to sell internationally. To illustrate the threat from foreign competition, we need only look at how the U.S. auto indus- try has evolved over the past 30 years. When foreign car makers first started making inroads into the U.S. market during the 1970s, no one would have thought that firms like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan could challenge the likes of Ford and GM. On the other hand, the opportunities that come from foreign markets can also be huge. For example, more than half of the revenues from Hollywood movies now come from abroad.

There are also other intangible benefits from investing in countries like Germany and Japan, where cutting-edge technol-

ogy is making its way into the marketplace. Here, investment abroad provides a chance to observe the introduction of new in- novations on a first-hand basis. This allows firms like IBM, GE, and 3Com to react more quickly to any technological advances and product innovations that might come out of countries like Germany or Japan.

Finally, if a product is well received at home, international mar- kets can be viewed as an opportunity to expand. For example, McDonald’s was much more of a hit at home than anyone ever ex- pected 40 years ago. Once it conquered the United States, it moved abroad—but it hasn’t always been a smooth move. There is much uncertainty every time McDonald’s opens a new store in an- other country; it is unlikely that any new store will be without prob- lems stemming from cultural differences. What McDonald’s learns in the first store that it opens in a new country can be used to modify the firm’s plans for opening subsequent stores in that country. McDonald’s also learns what works in different countries, and main- tains the flexibility to adapt to different tastes. As a result, you’ll find McLaks, a sandwich made of grilled salmon and dill sauce in Norway, Koroke Burgers (mashed potato, cabbage and katsu sauce, all in a sandwich), as well as green tea-flavored milkshakes in Japan, and McHuevos (which are regular hamburgers topped with a poached egg) in Uruguay. In effect, taking abroad a product that has been successful in the U.S. requires flexibility to adapt to the new culture and to quickly modify products. As a result, fore- casting cash flows from international markets is quite challenging.

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

Chapter Summary

Principle 3: Cash Flows Are the Source of Value The process of deciding whether or not to accept an investment proposal begins with an estimation of the amount and timing of the relevant future free cash flows. These cash flows are discounted back to present at the project’s required rate of return to determine the present value of the investment proposal.

P

Applying the Principles of Finance to Chapter 12 C

H A

P T

E R

1 2

396

12.1 Identify incremental cash flows that are relevant to project valuation. (pgs. 380–382) SUMMARY: The cash flows that are relevant to the valuation of an investment project are those that are incremental to the firm. Although this seems straightforward, identifying incremental cash flows can be very challenging; therefore, we offered the following guidelines and words of caution:

• Sunk costs are not incremental cash flows—sunk costs are one particular category of ex- penditures that frequently give rise to difficulty when evaluating an investment opportunity; they are expenditures that have already been made and cannot be undone if the project is not undertaken. By definition, such costs are not incremental to the decision to undertake a new investment.

• Overhead costs are generally not incremental cash flows—overhead costs include such things as the utilities required to heat and cool a business. If the utility bills of the firm will not change whether the investment is undertaken or not, then the allocated costs of utilities are ir- relevant to the analysis of the investment proposal.

• Beware of cash flows diverted from existing products—oftentimes a new product will get some portion of its revenues from reduced demand for another product produced by the same firm. For example, you might purchase lime-flavored Dorito chips rather than Nacho Cheese Doritos. When this happens, the analyst must be careful not to count the cannibalized sales taken away from an existing product as incremental sales.

• Account for opportunity costs—sometimes there are important cash flow consequences of undertaking an investment that do not actually happen but which are foregone as a result of the investment. For example, if you rent out a part of your floor space, you obviously cannot use it in your business. Similarly, if you decide to use the space yourself you forego the rent that would otherwise be received. The latter is an opportunity cost of using the space.

• Work in working capital requirements—if an investment requires that the firm increase its investment in working capital (e.g., accounts receivable and inventories net of any correspond- ing increase in funding provided in the form of accounts payable), this investment is no differ- ent than capital expenditures and results in a cash outflow.

• Ignore interest payments and other financing costs—interest expense associated with new debt financing used to finance an investment is not included as part of incremental cash flows. The interest expenses are considered part of the firm’s cost of capital, which we will discuss in Chapter 14.

KEY TERMS Incremental cash flow, page 380 The change in a firm’s cash flows that is a direct consequence of its having undertaken a particular project.

Sunk costs, page 381 Costs that have already been incurred.

KEY EQUATIONS

(12–1) Incremental Project

Cash Flows � aFirm Cash Flows

with the Project b � a Firm Cash Flows

without the Project b

Concept Check | 12.1

1. What makes an investment cash flow relevant to the evaluation of an investment proposal?

2. What are sunk costs?

3. What are some examples of synergistic effects that affect a project’s cash flows?

4. When borrowing the money needed to make an investment, is the interest expense incurred relevant to the analysis of the project? Explain.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 397

12.2 Calculate and forecast project cash flows for expansion-type investments. (pgs. 383–389) SUMMARY: An expansion project expands or increases the scope of the firm’s operations, in- cluding the addition of both revenues and costs, but does not replace any existing assets or opera- tions. Project cash flow is equal to the sum of operating cash flow less capital expenditures and any change needed in the firm’s investment in working capital, i.e.,

Operating Cash Flow

(12–2)

Net Operating Profit after Taxes or NOPAT

Estimating a project’s free cash flow involves a four-step process:

Step 1: Measure the effect of the proposed investment on the firm’s operating cash flows, or cash flows from operations. This includes the estimated incremental revenues and oper- ating expenses resulting from the project’s acceptance.

Step 2: Calculate the project’s requirements for working capital and the resulting cash flows. Here we consider the incremental investment that the project may require in ac- counts receivable plus inventories less any increase in accounts payable or trade credit.

Step 3: Calculate the project’s cash requirements for capital expenditures. Capital expendi- tures, as we learned in Chapter 11, include expenditures for property, plant and equipment that are expected to last for longer than one year. The biggest capital expenditure for most investments occurs when the investment is made. However, additional capital expendi- tures may have to be made periodically over the life of the project as older equipment wears out or new capacity needs to be added to meet the needs of growth over time.

Step 4: Combine the project’s operating cash flow with any investments made in net operat- ing working capital and capital expenditures to calculate the project’s free cash flow. In the initial year the free cash flow will generally include only the required investment out- lays for capital equipment and working capital. In subsequent years both operating revenues and expenses determine the project’s cash flows, and in the final year of the project addi- tional cash inflows from salvage value and the return of working capital may be present.

KEY TERM

Pro forma financial statements, page 383 A forecast of financial statements for a future period.

KEY EQUATIONS

Operating Cash Flow

(12–2)

Net Operating Profit after Taxes or NOPAT

(12–3)

NOPAT

(12–4) Investment in Net Operating

Working Capital � a Increase in

Accounts Receivable b � a Increase in

Inventories b � a Increase in

Accounts Payable b

Operating Cash Flowt

� Net Operating

Income (or Profit)t � Taxes t �

Depreciation Expenset

Free Cash Flow

� Net Operating Income (Profit)

� Taxes � Depreciation

Expense �

Increase in Capital Expenditures

(CAPEX) �

Increase in Net Operating Working

Capital (NOWC)

Increase in Capital Expenditures

(CAPEX) �

Increase in Net Operating Working

Capital (NOWC)

Free Cash Flow

� Net Operating Income (Profit)

� Taxes � Depreciation

Expense �

Concept Check | 12.2

1. What does the term free cash flow mean?

2. What are the four steps used to forecast a project’s future cash flows?

3. What is net operating working capital, and how does it affect a project’s cash flows?

4. What is CAPEX, and how does it affect a project’s cash flows?

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

398 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

SUMMARY: Inflation can have a very significant effect on project cash flows and consequently the value of an investment opportunity. The consequences of inflation can be felt in both revenues and costs and the effect is often quite different, so project cash flows may increase as a result of in- flation (revenues rise faster than costs) or fall (costs rise faster than revenues). The important thing is that the analysts carefully consider the potential effects of inflationary expectations and incorpo- rate them into the cash flow forecast. These inflation-adjusted cash flows are referred to as nomi- nal cash flows (as contrasted with real cash flows, which do not incorporate the effects of inflation). Since we forecast nominal cash flows we should use nominal rates of interest as the basis for de- termining the discount rate for the project (discussed in detail in Chapter 14).

KEY TERMS Nominal cash flows, page 389 Cash flows that account for the effects of inflation.

Nominal rate of interest, page 389 The rate of interest that is observed in financial markets and which incorporates consideration for inflation.

Real cash flows, page 389 Cash flows that would occur in the absence of any inflation.

Real rate of interest, page 389 The rate of interest that would occur in the absence of any inflation.

Concept Check | 12.3

1. What is the distinction between nominal and real interest rates?

2. If you forecast nominal cash flows, should you use the nominal or the real discount rate? Why?

SUMMARY: A replacement project is one in which an existing asset is taken out of service and an- other is added in its place. Thus, a distinctive feature of many replacement investments is that the prin- cipal source of investment cash flows comes from cost savings, not new revenues. Since the firm already operates an existing asset to generate revenues, the primary benefit of acquiring the new asset comes from the cost savings it offers.

The cash flows for a replacement project are calculated using Equation (12–1) just like those for an expansion project. The only difference is that with a replacement project we are continually asking how cash flows with the new asset differ from those generated by the older asset. For this reason, computing project cash flows for replacement asset investments is a bit more complicated. However, the principles are exactly the same.

KEY TERMS Expansion project, page 390 An investment proposal that increases the scope of the firm’s operations, including the addition of both revenues and costs, but does not replace any existing assets or operations.

Replacement investment, page 390 An investment proposal that is a substitute for an existing investment.

Concept Check | 12.4

1. What is a replacement investment?

2. What is the relevant depreciation expense when you are analyzing a replacement decision?

Study Questions 12–1. As you saw in the introduction, the Toyota Prius took some of its sales away from other

Toyota products. Toyota has also licensed its hybrid technology to Ford Motor Company, which has allowed Ford to introduce a Ford Fusion Hybrid in 2010 with 39 mpg, almost doubling the city efficiency of the non-hybrid Fusion. Obviously this new Ford product will compete directly with Toyota’s hybrids. Why do you think Toyota licensed its technology to Ford?

12–2. (Related to Regardless of Your Major: The Internet on Airline Flights—Making It Happen on page 380) In the feature titled Regardless of Your Major, we describe an investment proposal involving the sale of Internet services on airlines. How would you approach the problem of calculating the cash flows for such a venture? What costs would you include in the initial cash outlay, the annual operating cash flows, capital expenditures, and working capital?

12–3. Corporate overhead expenses related to utilities and other corporate expenses are generally not relevant to the analysis of new investment opportunities. Why?

12–4. New investments often require that the firm invest additional money in working capital. Give some examples of what this means.

12–5. When a firm finances a new investment, it often borrows part of the money, so the interest and principal payments this creates are incremental to the project’s acceptance. Why are these expenditures not included in the project’s cash flow computation?

12.3 Evaluate the effect of inflation on project cash flows. (pgs. 389–390)

12.4 Calculate the incremental cash flows for replacement-type investments. (pgs. 390–394)

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 399

12–6. Discuss how to compute a project’s free cash flow. How does free cash flow differ from operating cash flow?

12–7. If depreciation is not a cash flow item, why does it affect the level of cash flows from a project?

12–8. Describe net operating working capital, and explain how changes in this quantity affect an investment proposal’s cash flows.

12–9. What are sunk costs and how should they be considered when evaluating an investment’s cash flows?

12–10. Should overhead expense ever be considered when evaluating investment cash flows?

12–11. What are opportunity costs, and how should they affect an investment’s cash flows? Give an example.

12–12. Should anticipated inflation be incorporated into project cash flow forecasts? If so, how?

12–13. When McDonald’s (MCD) moved into India, it faced a particularly difficult task. The major religion in India is the Hindu religion, and Hindus don’t eat beef—in fact, most of the one billion people living in India are vegetarians. Still, McDonald’s ventured into India and has been enormously successful. Why do you think they have been so successful and what kind of products do you think they sell in their stores?

12–14. (Related to Finance in a Flat World: Entering New Markets on page 395) In the feature titled Finance in a Flat World: Entering New Markets, we described the importance of thinking globally when making investments. Pick a new product that you have just learned about that is being sold domestically and describe how the product might benefit from international markets.

12–15. For years GM treated each car brand as if it were a separate company, considering all new car sales as incremental sales. Critically evaluate this position.

12–16. Throughout the examples in this chapter we have assumed that the initial investment in working capital is later recaptured when the project ends. Is this a realistic assumption? Do firms always recover 100% of their investment in accounts receivable and inventories?

Self-Test Problems Problem ST.1 (Calculating Free Cash Flow) Clarion Enterprises is considering an investment in a new digital reader for use in its inventory man- agement system. The reader will cost $50,000 to purchase and install, will be depreciated over a five- year life using straight-line depreciation toward a $10,000 salvage value in five years. The firm’s analyst estimates that the new reader will reduce the firm’s inventory costs by $30,000 per year, which means that the firm’s net operating profits will increase by $22,000 per year after depreciation expense. If the firm purchases the reader there will be no need to increase the firm’s working capital, nor will there be any added capital expenditures over the five-year investment life. If Clarion faces a 30% marginal tax rate, what will be the free cash flow to the firm from the new reader in years 0 through 5?

Solution ST.1

STEP 1: Picture the problem

Clarion Enterprises is considering investing in a new digital reader and needs to determine the cash flows asso- ciated with this new investment.

CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5

0 1 2 3 4 5Time Period

Cash Flow

Years

(SOLUTION ST.1 CONTINUED >> ON NEXT PAGE)

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

400 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Problem ST.2 (Calculating Free Cash Flow) Easterwood Corporation is currently considering an investment of $400,000 in a lab tester that it ex- pects will generate an additional $500,000 per year in revenues (all on credit) to the firm’s laboratory division over the next five years. The firm realizes a 30% gross profit margin (i.e., cost of services pro- vided are 70% of revenues) and collects on credit sales in approximately 90 days (all sales involve credit since they are billed to the patient’s insurance provider). Thus, the firm expects accounts receiv- able to increase by $125,000. In addition to the cost of services, if Easterwood invests in the lab tester, it will incur a fixed cash operating expense of $10,000 per year, and the new lab tester will be depre- ciated using straight-line depreciation over a period of 5 years, at which time it is expected to have a zero salvage value. The new investment will not require any new investment in inventories and ac- counts payable will not increase if the investment is made.

a. Calculate the operating cash flow for the lab tester investment for years 1 through 5. b. Assuming the only investment made in fixed assets is for the cost of the lab tester, what is CAPEX

for the investment over the five-year life of the equipment investment? c. What additional investment(s) is (are) required if the new tester is purchased?

STEP 2: Decide on a solution strategy

We can calculate the project’s free cash flows using Equation (12–2):

(12–2)

STEP 3: Solve

The free cash flows for years 0 through 5 are computed using Equation (12–2) in the table below:

Free Cash Flow

� Net Operating Income (Profit)

� Taxes � Depreciation

Expense �

Increase in Capital Expenditures

(CAPEX) �

Increase in Net Operating Working

Capital (NOWC)

STEP 4: Analyze

The digital reader requires a $50,000 initial investment and the $30,000 annual savings result in additional oper- ating cash flow of $23,400 after taxes. In year five the firm expects to sell the used piece of equipment for $10,000, which is the book value of the equipment, such that this cash flow represents no gain or loss and does not result in the firm having to pay additional taxes. Consequently, the free cash flow for year five equals $33,400, which is the sum of the $23,400 in operating cash flow plus the $10,000 salvage value.

>> END Solution ST.1

0 1 2 3 4 5

Inventory Savings � Added Operating Earnings $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 $30,000 less: Depreciation Expense (8,000) (8,000) (8,000) (8,000) (8,000) Net Operating Income $22,000 $22,000 $22,000 $22,000 $22,000 less: Taxes (30%) (6,600) (6,600) (6,600) (6,600) (6,600) Net Operating Profit after tax (NOPAT) $15,400 $15,400 $15,400 $15,400 $15,400 plus: Depreciation Expense 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 Operating Cash Flow $23,400 $23,400 $23,400 $23,400 $23,400 less: Increase in net operating working capital — — — — — — less: Increase in CAPEX $(50,000) — — — — 10,000 Free Cash Flow $(50,000) $23,400 $23,400 $23,400 $23,400 $33,400

Note: Salvage value is added back.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 401

Solution ST.2

STEP 1: Picture the problem

In addition to the cash flows from operations, the lab tester requires an initial investment in net operating working capital in year 0 based on the change in accounts receivable resulting from increased sales. This increase in ac- counts receivable will occur initially and, since project revenues are constant, there will be no additional invest- ments in accounts receivable after the initial investment in year 0. Finally, in year 5 the project will realize the money invested in net operating working capital.

CF0 CF1 CF2 CF3 CF4 CF5

0 1 2 3 4 5Time Period

Cash Flow

Years

CF0: The CAPEX plus the added investment equal to the change in accounts receivable

CF5: The operating cash flow for year 5 plus recovery of the added investment in accounts receivable

STEP 2: Decide on a solution strategy

We can calculate the project’s free cash flows using Equation (12–2):

(12–2)

In this instance there will be an increased investment in net operating working capital due to the increase in the level of accounts receivable. There is no increase expected in inventories or accounts payable.

STEP 3: Solve

a. Operating flows are calculated in line 12 of the spreadsheet found below:

Free Cash Flow

� Net Operating Income (Profit)

� Taxes � Depreciation

Expense �

Increase in Capital Expenditures

(CAPEX) �

Increase in Net Operating Working

Capital (NOWC)

b. Only one capital expenditure is made and it equals $400,000 in year 0. Since there is no expected salvage value none is added back in year 5.

c. An additional $125,000 investment in net operating working capital must be made in year 0 and this invest- ment is recovered in year 5 when the project is shut down.

(SOLUTION ST.2 CONTINUED >> ON NEXT PAGE)

Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Project Revenues $500,000 $500,000 $500,000 $500,000 $500,000 � Cost of Goods Sold (70% of revenues) (350,000) (350,000) (350,000) (350,000) (350,000) � Gross Profit $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 $150,000 � Cash Operating Expenses ($10,000 per year) (10,000) (10,000) (10,000) (10,000) (10,000) � Depreciation ($400,000 / 5 years ) (80,000) (80,000) (80,000) (80,000) (80,000) � Net Operating Income $ 60,000 $ 60,000 $ 60,000 $ 60,000 $ 60,000 � Taxes (Tax rate is 30%) (18,000) (18,000) (18,000) (18,000) (18,000) � Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT) $ 42,000 $ 42,000 $ 42,000 $ 42,000 $42,000 � Depreciation 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 � Operating Cash Flow $122,000 $122,000 $122,000 $122,000 $122,000

less: Increase in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) $(400,000) — — — — — less: Increase in operating working capital (125,000) — — — — 125,000

Free Cash Flow (525,000) $122,000 $122,000 $122,000 $122,000 $247,000

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

402 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Problem ST.3 (Replacement Project Cash Flows) The Marlin Tribune Herald purchased a used printing press five years ago that it hoped would serve its printing needs for 10 years. Although the press had performed as expected for the last five years, newer and more highly automated color printers have now become available. The existing press has a book value of $100,000 and is being depreciated at $20,000 per year toward a zero salvage value in 5 years. However, today the press can be sold for only $50,000; the $50,000 loss would be used to off- set taxes. The new press being considered costs $300,000 to purchase, plus an additional $10,000 in shipping and installation costs. Moreover, the new press has an expected salvage value of $100,000 in 5 years.

The appeal of the new press is that it is completely automated (requires two fewer employees whose combined salaries and fringe benefits total $110,000 per year) and also does color printing. The ability to sell color ads is expected to increase the paper’s ad revenues from $150,000 per year to $200,000. However, the added color printing feature comes at the cost of higher maintenance and ink costs of $100,000 compared to only $80,000 for the older press.

The Tribune Herald faces a 30% marginal tax rate and uses a 15% discount rate to evaluate equip- ment purchases for the newspaper.

a. What would be the initial cash outflow associated with replacing the older printer with the new one? b. What would be the annual free cash flows for years 1 through 5 if the new printer were purchased? c. Should the newspaper replace the older printer?

STEP 4: Analyze

The new tester will cost the firm $400,000 to purchase and an additional investment of $125,000 in accounts receivable. In return for making this investment the project is expected to earn operating cash flow of $122,000 per year for each of the next five years plus the return of the investment in accounts receivable in year five for a total free cash flow in that year of $247,000.

>> END Solution ST.2

Solution ST.3

STEP 1: Picture the problem

An older printing press with 5 years more of life is being replaced with a new printing press with an expected life of 5 years. To calculate the change in cash flows we will take the cash flows from the new printing press and subtract out the cash flows from the old printing press:

CF(New)0 CF(New)1 CF(New)2

Minus

Equals: Difference (New – Old)

Where the cash flows to be used in analyzing the replacement decision ( �CFt ) equal the difference in cash flows of the new and old asset

CF(New)3 CF(New)4 CF(New)5

0 1 2 3 4 5Time Period

Cash Flow

CF(Old)0 CF(Old)1 CF(Old)2 CF(Old)3 CF(Old)4 CF(Old)5

�CF0 �CF1 �CF2 �CF3 �CF4 �CF5

Years

k = 15%

STEP 2: Decide on a solution strategy

This investment involves the replacement of an existing printer with a newer model. Consequently, what we are interested in doing is analyzing the incremental cash flows from the new printer net of those with the older printer. As we know from Equation (12–5), this means that all the cash flows will represent the difference between those realized with and without the new printer,

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 403

(12–5)

STEP 3: Solve

a. The incremental cash flows from purchasing the new printer in year 0 are the following:

Replacement Cash Flows (¢CF)Year t

� ° Cash Flow forthe New Asset CF(New)Year t

¢ � °Cash Flow forthe Old Asset CF(Old)Year t

¢

b. The annual free cash flows for years 1 through 5 are calculated as follows:

c. The NPV for the project is calculated as follows:

or

STEP 4: Analyze

Thus, the replacement of the older printer with the new one appears to be a good idea. The present value of the additional cash inflows exceeds the cost of making the exchange by over $155,000.

>> END Solution ST.3

NPV = ($245,000) + $400,353 = $155,353

NPV = ($245,000) + $104,600

(1 + .15)1 +

$104,600

(1 + .15)2 +

$104,600

(1 + .15)3 +

$104,600

(1 + .15)4 +

$204,600

(1 + .15)5

Analysis of the Annual Cash Flows Years 1–4 Year 5

Cash inflows Increase in operating income $ 50,000 Reduced salaries $100,000 Reduced fringe benefits 10,000

$160,000 $160,000 Cash outflows

Increased maintenance $ (20,000) Increased depreciation (22,000)

(42,000) $(42,000) Net Operating Income $118,000 $118,000 less: Taxes (35,400) (35,400) Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) $ 82,600 $ 82,600 plus: Depreciation 22,000 22,000 Operating cash flow $104,600 $104,600 less: Increase in net operating working capital — — less: Increase in CAPEX — 100,000 Free Cash Flows $104,600 $204,600

Analysis of the Initial Outlay Year 0

New Printer Purchase price $(300,000) Shipping cost (5,000) Installation cost (5,000) Total installed cost of purchasing the new press $(310,000)

Old Printer Sale price $ 50,000 less: Tax savings � [($ 100,000 � 50,000) � .30] 15,000 After-tax proceeds from the sale of the old press $ 65,000

Operating Working Capital — Initial Cash Flow (245,000)

Note: Tax Savings are added back.

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

404 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Without the Project With the Project

Accounts receivable $ 55,000 $ 89,000 Inventory 100,000 180,000 Accounts payable 70,000 120,000

Without the Project With the Project

Accounts receivable $33,000 $23,000 Inventory 25,000 40,000 Accounts payable 50,000 86,000

Without the Project With the Project

Accounts receivable $45,000 $63,000 Inventory 65,000 80,000 Accounts payable 70,000 94,000

Study Problems Forecasting Project Cash Flows 12–1. (Determining relevant cash flows) Captain’s Cereal is considering introducing a

variation of its current breakfast cereal, Crunch Stuff. This new cereal will be similar to the old, with the exception that it will contain sugar-coated marshmallows shaped in the form of stars. The new cereal will be called Crunch Stuff n’ Stars. It is estimated that the sales for the new cereal will be $25 million; however, 20% of those sales will draw from former Crunch Stuff customers who have switched to Crunch Stuff n’ Stars and who would not have switched if the new product had not been introduced. What is the relevant sales level to consider when deciding whether or not to introduce Crunch Stuff n’ Stars?

12–2. (Determining relevant cash flows) Fruity Stones is considering introducing a variation of its current breakfast cereal, Jolt ’n Stones. This new cereal will be similar to the old with the exception that it will contain more sugar in the form of small pebbles. The new cereal will be called Stones ’n Stuff. It is estimated that the sales for the new cereal will be $100 million; however, 40% of those sales will be from former Fruity Stones customers who have switched to Stones ’n Stuff. These former customers will be lost regardless of whether the new product is offered since this is the amount of sales the firm expects to lose to a competitor product that is going to be introduced at about the same time. What is the relevant sales level to consider when deciding whether or not to introduce Stones ’n Stuff?

12–3. (Related to Checkpoint 12.1 on page 385) (Calculating changes in net operating working capital) Tetious Dimensions is introducing a new product and has an expected change in net operating income of $775,000. Tetious Dimensions has a 34% marginal tax rate. This project will also produce $200,000 of depreciation per year. In addition, this project will cause the following changes:

What is the project’s free cash flow?

12–4. (Calculating changes in net operating working capital) Duncan Motors is introducing a new product and has an expected change in net operating income of $300,000. Duncan Motors has a 34% marginal tax rate. This project will also produce $50,000 of depreciation per year. In addition, this project will cause the following changes:

What is the project’s free cash flow?

12–5. (Calculating changes in net operating working capital) Racin’ Scooters is introducing a new product and has an expected change in net operating income of $475,000. Racin’ Scooters has a 34% marginal tax rate. This project will also produce $100,000 of depreciation per year. In addition, this project will cause the following changes:

What is the project’s free cash flow?

Go to www.myfinancelab.com to complete these exercises online and

get instant feedback.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 405

Without the Project With the Project

Accounts receivable $55,000 $ 63,000 Inventory 55,000 70,000 Accounts payable 90,000 106,000

12–6. (Calculating changes in net operating working capital) Visible Fences is introducing a new product and has an expected change in net operating income of $900,000. Visible Fences has a 34% marginal tax rate. This project will also produce $300,000 of depreciation per year. In addition, this project will cause the following changes:

What is the project’s free cash flow?

12–7. (Related to Checkpoint 12.1 on page 385) (Calculating operating cash flows) Assume that a new project will annually generate revenues of $2,000,000 and cash expenses (including both fixed and variable costs) of $800,000, while increasing depreciation by $200,000 per year. In addition, the firm’s tax rate is 34%. Calculate the operating cash flows for the new project.

12–8. (Calculating operating cash flows) The Heritage Farm Implement Company is considering an investment that is expected to generate revenues of $3 million per year. The project will also involve annual cash expenses (including both fixed and variable costs) of $900,000, while increasing depreciation by $400,000 per year. If the firm’s tax rate is 34% what is the project’s estimated net operating profit after taxes? What is the project’s annual operating cash flows?

12–9. (Related to Checkpoint 12.1 on page 385) (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) You are considering expanding your product line that currently consists of skateboards to include gas-powered skateboards, and you feel you can sell 10,000 of these per year for 10 years (after which time this project is expected to shut down with solar-powered skateboards taking over). The gas skateboards would sell for $100 each with variable costs of $40 for each one produced, while annual fixed costs associated with production would be $160,000. In addition, there would be a $1,000,000 initial expenditure associated with the purchase of new production equipment. It is assumed that this initial expenditure will be depreciated using the simplified straight-line method down to zero over 10 years. The project will also require a one-time initial investment of $50,000 in net working capital associated with inventory, and this working capital investment will be recovered when the project is shut down. Finally, assume that the firm’s marginal tax rate is 34%.

a. What is the initial cash outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual net cash flows associated with this project for years 1 through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (that is, what is the free cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. What is the project’s NPV given a 10% required rate of return?

12–10. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) You are considering new elliptical trainers and you feel you can sell 5,000 of these per year for 5 years (after which time this project is expected to shut down when it is learned that being fit is unhealthy). The elliptical trainers would sell for $1,000 each with variable costs of $500 for each one produced, while annual fixed costs associated with production would be $1,000,000. In addition, there would be a $5,000,000 initial expenditure associated with the purchase of new production equipment. It is assumed that this initial expenditure will be depreciated using the simplified straight-line method down to zero over 5 years. This project will also require a one-time initial investment of $1,000,000 in net working capital associated with inventory, and it is assumed that this working capital investment will be recovered when the project is shut down. Finally, assume that the firm’s tax rate is 34%.

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual net cash flows associated with this project for years 1 through 4? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (that is, what is the free cash flow in year 5

plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. What is the project’s NPV given a 10% required rate of return?

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

406 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

12–11. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) The Guo Chemical Corporation is considering the purchase of a chemical analysis machine. The purchase of this machine will result in an increase in earnings before interest and taxes of $70,000 per year. The machine has a purchase price of $250,000, and it would cost an additional $10,000 after tax to install this machine correctly. In addition, to operate this machine properly, inventory must be increased by $15,000. This machine has an expected life of 10 years, after which time it will have no salvage value. Also, assume simplified straight-line depreciation, that this machine is being depreciated down to zero, a 34% marginal tax rate, and a required rate of return of 15%.

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual after-tax cash flows associated with this project for years 1

through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (what is the annual after-tax cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flow associated with termination of the project)? d. Should this machine be purchased?

12–12. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) El Gato’s Motors is considering the purchase of a new production machine for $1 million. The purchase of this machine will result in an increase in earnings before interest and taxes of $400,000 per year. It would cost $50,000 after tax to install this machine; in addition, to operate this machine properly, workers would have to go through a brief training session that would cost $100,000 after tax. Also, because this machine is extremely efficient, its purchase would necessitate an increase in inventory of $150,000. This machine has an expected life of 10 years, after which time it will have no salvage value. Assume simplified straight-line depreciation, that this machine is being depreciated down to zero, a 34% marginal tax rate, and a required rate of return of 12%.

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual after-tax cash flows associated with this project for years 1

through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (what is the annual after-tax cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. Should this machine be purchased?

12–13. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) Weir’s Trucking, Inc. is considering the purchase of a new production machine for $100,000. The purchase of this new machine will result in an increase in earnings before interest and taxes of $25,000 per year. To operate this machine properly, workers would have to go through a brief training session that would cost $5,000 after tax. In addition, it would cost $5,000 after tax to install this machine correctly. Also, because this machine is extremely efficient, its purchase would necessitate an increase in inventory of $25,000. This machine has an expected life of 10 years, after which it will have no salvage value. Finally, to purchase the new machine, it appears that the firm would have to borrow $80,000 at 10 percent interest from its local bank, resulting in additional interest payments of $8,000 per year. Assume simplified straight-line depreciation, that this machine is being depreciated down to zero, a 34% marginal tax rate, and a required rate of return of 12%.

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual after-tax cash flows associated with this project for years 1

through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (what is the annual after-tax cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. Should this machine be purchased?

12–14. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) The Chung Chemical Corporation is considering the purchase of a chemical analysis machine. Although the machine being considered will result in an increase in earnings before interest and taxes of $35,000 per year, it has a purchase price of $100,000, and it would cost an additional $5,000 after tax to correctly install this machine. In addition, to properly operate this machine, inventory must be increased by $5,000. This machine has an expected life of 10 years, after which it will have no salvage value. Also, assume simplified straight-line depreciation, that this machine is being depreciated down to zero, a 34% marginal tax rate, and a required rate of return of 15%.

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 407

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual after-tax cash flows associated with this project for years 1

through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (what is the annual after-tax cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. Should this machine be purchased?

12–15. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) Raymobile Motors is considering the purchase of a new production machine for $500,000. The purchase of this machine will result in an increase in earnings before interest and taxes of $150,000 per year. To operate this machine properly, workers would have to go through a brief training session that would cost $25,000 after tax. In addition, it would cost $5,000 after tax to install this machine correctly. Also, because this machine is extremely efficient, its purchase would necessitate an increase in inventory of $30,000. This machine has an expected life of 10 years, after which it will have no salvage value. Assume simplified straight- line depreciation, that this machine is being depreciated down to zero, a 34% marginal tax rate, and a required rate of return of 15%.

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual after-tax cash flows associated with this project for years 1

through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (what is the annual after-tax cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. Should this machine be purchased?

12–16. (Calculating project cash flows and NPV) Garcia’s Truckin’, Inc. is considering the purchase of a new production machine for $200,000. The purchase of this machine will result in an increase in earnings before interest and taxes of $50,000 per year. To operate this machine properly, workers would have to go through a brief training session that would cost $5,000 after tax. In addition, it would cost $5,000 after tax to install this machine correctly. Also, because this machine is extremely efficient, its purchase would necessitate an increase in inventory of $20,000. This machine has an expected life of 10 years, after which it will have no salvage value. Finally, to purchase the new machine, it appears that the firm would have to borrow $100,000 at 8 percent interest from its local bank, resulting in additional interest payments of $8,000 per year. Assume simplified straight-line depreciation, that this machine is being depreciated down to zero, a 34% tax rate, and a required rate of return of 10%.

a. What is the initial outlay associated with this project? b. What are the annual after-tax cash flows associated with this project for years 1

through 9? c. What is the terminal cash flow in year 10 (what is the annual after-tax cash flow in

year 10 plus any additional cash flows associated with termination of the project)? d. Should this machine be purchased?

12–17. (Related to Checkpoint 12.1 on page 385) (Comprehensive problem—calculating project cash flows, NPV, PI, and IRR) Traid Winds Corporation, a firm in the 34% marginal tax bracket with a 15% required rate of return or discount rate, is considering a new project. This project involves the introduction of a new product. This project is expected to last 5 years and then, because this is somewhat of a fad project, it will be terminated. Given the following information, determine the net cash flows associated with the project, the project’s net present value, the profitability index, and the internal rate of return. Apply the appropriate decision criteria.

Cost of new plant and equipment: $14,800,000

Shipping and installation costs: $200,000

Unit sales:

Year Units Sold

1 70,000 2 120,000 3 120,000 4 80,000 5 70,000

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

408 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Year Units Sold

1 70,000 2 100,000 3 140,000 4 70,000 5 60,000

Year Units Sold

1 80,000 2 100,000 3 120,000 4 70,000 5 70,000

Sales price per unit: $300/unit in years 1–4, $250/unit in year 5

Variable cost per unit: $140/unit

Annual fixed costs: $700,000

Working capital requirements: There will be an initial working capital requirement of $200,000 to get production started. For each year, the total investment in net working capital will be equal to 10% of the dollar value of sales for that year. Thus, the investment in working capital will increase during years 1 through 3, then decrease in year 4. Finally, all working capital is liquidated at the termination of the project at the end of year 5.

The depreciation method: Use the simplified straight-line method over 5 years. It is assumed that the plant and equipment will have no salvage value after 5 years.

12–18. (Calculating cash flows—comprehensive problem) The Kumar Corporation, a firm in the 34% marginal tax bracket with a 15% required rate of return or discount rate, is considering a new project. This project involves the introduction of a new product. This project is expected to last 5 years and then, because this is somewhat of a fad product, it will be terminated. Given the following information, determine the net cash flows associated with the project, the project’s net present value, the profitability index, and the internal rate of return. Apply the appropriate decision criteria.

Cost of new plant and equipment: $ 9,900,000

Shipping and installation costs: $ 100,000

Unit sales:

Sales price per unit: $280/unit in years 1–4, $180/unit in year 5

Variable cost per unit: $140/unit

Annual fixed costs: $300,000

Working capital requirements: There will be an initial working capital requirement of $100,000 just to get production started. For each year, the total investment in net working capital will equal 10% of the dollar value of sales for that year. Thus, the investment in working capital will increase during years 1 through 3, then decrease in year 4. Finally, all working capital is liquidated at the termination of the project at the end of year 5.

The depreciation method: Use the simplified straight-line method over 5 years. It is assumed that the plant and equipment will have no salvage value after 5 years.

12–19. (Calculating cash flows—comprehensive problem) The Shome Corporation, a firm in the 34% marginal tax bracket with a 15 percent required rate of return or discount rate, is considering a new project. This project involves the introduction of a new product. This project is expected to last 5 years and then, because this is somewhat of a fad project, it will be terminated. Given the following information, determine the net cash flows associated with the project, the project’s net present value, the profitability index, and the internal rate of return. Apply the appropriate decision criteria.

Cost of new plant and equipment: $6,900,000

Shipping and installation costs: $100,000

Unit sales:

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 409

Year Units Sold

1 1,000,000 2 1,800,000 3 1,800,000 4 1,200,000 5 700,000

Sales price per unit: $250/unit in years 1–4, $200/unit in year 5

Variable cost per unit: $130/unit

Annual fixed costs: $300,000

Working capital requirements: There will be an initial working capital requirement of $100,000 just to get production started. For each year, the total investment in net working capital will be equal to 10% of the dollar value of sales for that year. Thus, the investment in working capital will increase during years 1 through 3, then decrease in year 4. Finally, all working capital is liquidated at the termination of the project at the end of year 5.

The depreciation method: Use the simplified straight-line method over 5 years. It is assumed that the plant and equipment will have no salvage value after 5 years.

12–20. (Calculating cash flows—comprehensive problem) The C Corporation, a firm in the 34% marginal tax bracket with a 15% required rate of return or discount rate, is considering a new project. This project involves the introduction of a new product. This project is expected to last 5 years and then, because this is somewhat of a fad product, it will be terminated. Given the following information, determine the net cash flows associated with the project, the project’s net present value, the profitability index, and the internal rate of return. Apply the appropriate decision criteria.

Cost of new plant and equipment: $198,000,000

Shipping and installation costs: $2,000,000

Unit sales:

Sales price per unit: $800/unit in years 1–4, $600/unit in year 5

Variable cost per unit: $400/unit

Annual fixed costs: $10,000,000

Working capital requirements: There will be an initial working capital requirement of $2,000,000 just to get production started. For each year, the total investment in net working capital will equal 10% of the dollar value of sales for that year. Thus, the investment in working capital will increase during years 1 through 3, then decrease in year 4. Finally, all working capital is liquidated at the termination of the project at the end of year 5.

The depreciation method: Use the simplified straight-line method over 5 years. It is assumed that the plant and equipment will have no salvage value after 5 years.

Inflation and Capital Budgeting 12–21. (Inflation and project cash flows) If the price of a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.49

and the anticipated rate of inflation in energy prices is such that this cost of gasoline is expected to rise by 5% per year, what is the expected price per gallon in 10 years?

12–22. (Inflation and project cash flows) On June 1, 2003 the average price of a gallon of gasoline in San Francisco, CA was $1.80. Just three years later the price of that same gallon of gas was $3.20. What was the rate of inflation in the price of a gallon of gas over the period?

12–23. (Inflation and project cash flows) Carlyle Chemicals is evaluating a new chemical compound used in the manufacture of a wide range of consumer products. The firm is concerned that inflation in the cost of raw materials will have an adverse effect on the project cash flows. Specifically, the firm expects the cost per unit (which is currently $0.80) will rise at a 10% rate over the next three years. The per unit selling price is currently $1.00 and this price is expected to rise at a meager 2% rate over the next three

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

410 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

years. If Carlyle expects to sell 5, 7, and 9 million units for the next three years, respectively, what is your estimate of the gross profits to the firm? Based on these estimates what recommendation would you offer to the firm’s management with regard to this product?

12–24. (Inflation and project cash flows) After reporting your findings to the company management (problem 12–23), the company CFO suggested that they could purchase raw materials in advance for future delivery. This would involve paying for the raw materials today and taking delivery as the materials are needed. Through the advance purchase plan the cost of raw materials would cost $0.90 per unit. How does this new plan affect your cash flow estimates? How should the advance payment for the raw materials enter into your analysis of project cash flows?

Replacement Project Cash Flows 12–25. (Related to Checkpoint 12.2 on page 391) (Replacement project cash flows) Madrano’s

Wholesale Fruit Company located in McAllen, TX is considering the purchase of a new fleet of tractors to be used in the delivery of fruits and vegetables grown in the Rio Grand Valley of Texas. If it goes through with the purchase, it will spend $400,000 on eight rigs. The new trucks will be kept for 5 years, during which time they will be depreciated toward a $40,000 salvage value using straight-line depreciation. The rigs are expected to have a market value in 5 years equal to their salvage value. The new tractors will be used to replace the company’s older fleet of eight trucks which are fully depreciated but can be sold for an estimated $20,000 (since the tractors have a current book value of zero, the selling price is fully taxable at the firm’s 30% tax rate). The existing tractor fleet is expected to be useable for 5 more years after which time they will have no salvage value at all. The existing fleet of tractors uses $200,000 per year in diesel fuel, whereas the new, more efficient fleet will use only $150,000. In addition, the new fleet will be covered under warranty, so the maintenance costs per year are expected to be only $12,000 compared to $35,000 for the existing fleet.

a. What are the differential operating cash flow savings per year during years 1 through 5 for the new fleet?

b. What is the initial cash outlay required to replace the existing fleet with the newer tractors?

c. Sketch a timeline for the replacement project cash flows for years 0 through 5. d. If Madrano requires a 15% discount rate for new investments, should the fleet be

replaced?

12–26. (Replacement project cash flows) The Minot Kit Aircraft Company of Minot, ND uses a plasma cutter to fabricate metal aircraft parts for its plane kits. The company currently is using a cutter that it purchased used 4 years ago which has an $80,000 book value and is being depreciated $20,000 per year over the next 4 years. If the old cutter were to be sold today, the company estimates that it would bring in an amount equal to the book value of the equipment.

The company is considering the purchase of a new automated plasma cutter that would cost $400,000 to install and which would be depreciated over the next 4 years toward a $40,000 salvage value using straight-line depreciation. The primary advantage of the new cutter is the fact that it is fully automated and can be run by one operator rather than the three employees that are currently required. The labor savings would be $100,000 per year. The firm faces a marginal tax rate of 30%.

a. What are the differential operating cash flow savings per year during years 1 through 4 for the new plasma cutter?

b. What is the initial cash outlay required to replace the existing plasma cutter with the newer model?

c. Sketch a timeline for the replacement project cash flows for years 0 through 5. d. If the company requires a 15% discount rate for new investments, should the fleet be

replaced?

12–27. (Replacement project cash flows) The Louisiana Land and Cattle Company (LL&CC) is one of the largest cattle buyers in the country. They have buyers at all the major cattle auctions throughout the southeastern part of the U.S. who buy on the company’s behalf and then have the cattle shipped to Sulpher Springs, Louisiana, where they are sorted by

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 411

weight and type before shipping off to feed lots in the Midwest. The company has been considering the replacement of their tractor-trailer rigs with a newer, more fuel- efficient fleet for some time, and a local Peterbilt dealer has approached the company with a proposal. The proposal would call for the purchase of 10 new rigs at a cost of $100,000 each. The rigs would be depreciated toward a salvage value of $40,000 over a period of 5 years. If LL&CC purchases the rigs, it will sell its existing fleet of 10 rigs to the Peterbilt dealer for their current book value of $25,000 per unit. The existing fleet will be fully depreciated in 1 more year but is expected to be serviceable for 5 more years, at which time they would be worth only $5,000 per unit as scrap.

The new fleet of trucks is much more fuel-efficient and will require only $200,000 in fuel costs compared to $300,000 for the existing fleet. In addition, the new fleet of trucks will require minimal maintenance over the next 5 years, equal to an estimated $150,000 compared to almost $400,000 per year that is currently being spent to keep the older fleet running. The marginal tax rate is 30%.

a. What are the differential operating cash flow savings per year during years 1 through 5 for the new fleet? The firm pays taxes at a 30% marginal tax rate.

b. What is the initial cash outlay required to replace the existing fleet with new rigs? c. Sketch a timeline for the replacement project cash flows for years 0 through 5. d. If LL&CC requires a 15% discount rate for new investments, should the fleet be

replaced?

Mini-Cases Danforth & Donnalley Laundry Products Company Determining Relevant Cash Flows

At 3:00 p.m. on April 14, 2010, James Danforth, president of Danforth & Donnalley (D&D) Laundry Products Company, called to order a meeting of the financial directors. The purpose of the meeting was to make a capital-budgeting decision with re- spect to the introduction and production of a new product, a liq- uid detergent called Blast.

D&D was formed in 1993 with the merger of Danforth Chemical Company (producer of Lift-Off detergent, the leading laundry detergent on the West Coast) and Donnalley Home Prod- ucts Company (maker of Wave detergent, a major Midwestern laundry product). As a result of the merger, D&D was producing and marketing two major product lines. Although these products were in direct competition, they were not without product differ- entiation: Lift-Off was a low-suds, concentrated powder, and Wave was a more traditional powder detergent. Each line brought with it considerable brand loyalty; and, by 2010, sales from the two detergent lines had increased ten-fold from 1993 levels, with both products now being sold nationally.

In the face of increased competition and technological inno- vation, D&D spent large amounts of time and money over the past 4 years researching and developing a new, highly concen- trated liquid laundry detergent. D&D’s new detergent, which they call Blast, had many obvious advantages over the conventional powdered products. The company felt that Blast offered the con- sumer benefits in three major areas. Blast was so highly concen- trated that only 2 ounces were needed to do an average load of laundry, as compared with 8 to 12 ounces of powdered detergent. Moreover, being a liquid, it was possible to pour Blast directly on stains and hard-to-wash spots, eliminating the need for a pre-soak and giving it cleaning abilities that powders could not possibly

match. And, finally, it would be packaged in a lightweight, un- breakable plastic bottle with a sure-grip handle, making it much easier to use and more convenient to store than the bulky boxes of powdered detergents with which it would compete.

The meeting participants included James Danforth, presi- dent of D&D; Jim Donnalley, director of the board; Guy Rainey, vice-president in charge of new products; Urban McDonald, controller; and Steve Gasper, a newcomer to the D&D financial staff who was invited by McDonald to sit in on the meeting. Dan- forth called the meeting to order, gave a brief statement of its purpose, and immediately gave the floor to Guy Rainey.

Rainey opened with a presentation of the cost and cash flow analysis for the new product. To keep things clear, he passed out copies of the projected cash flows to those present (see Exhibits 1 and 2). In support of this information, he provided some insights

Exhibit 1: D&D Laundry Products Company Forecast of An- nual Cash Flows from the Blast Product (Including cash flows resulting from sales diverted from the existing product lines.)

Year Cash flows Year Cash flows

1 $280,000 9 $350,000 2 280,000 10 350,000 3 280,000 11 250,000 4 280,000 12 250,000 5 280,000 13 250,000 6 350,000 14 250,000 7 350,000 15 250,000 8 350,000I

S B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

412 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Exhibit 2 D&D Laundry Products Company Forecast of Annual Cash Flows from the Blast Product (Excluding cash flows result- ing from sales diverted from the existing product lines.)

Year Cash flows Year Cash flows

1 $250,000 9 $315,000 2 250,000 10 315,000 3 250,000 11 225,000 4 250,000 12 225,000 5 250,000 13 225,000 6 315,000 14 225,000 7 315,000 15 225,000 8 315,000

as to how these calculations were determined. Rainey proposed that the initial cost for Blast include $500,000 for the test market- ing, which was conducted in the Detroit area and completed in June of the previous year, and $2 million for new specialized equipment and packaging facilities. The estimated life for the fa- cilities was 15 years, after which they would have no salvage value. This 15-year estimated life assumption coincides with company policy set by Donnalley not to consider cash flows oc- curring more than 15 years into the future, as estimates that far ahead “tend to become little more than blind guesses.”

Rainey cautioned against taking the annual cash flows (as shown in Exhibit 1) at face value because portions of these cash flows actually would be a result of sales that had been diverted from Lift-Off and Wave. For this reason, Rainey also produced the estimated annual cash flows that had been adjusted to include only those cash flows incremental to the company as a whole (as shown in Exhibit 2).

At this point, discussion opened between Donnalley and McDonald, and it was concluded that the opportunity cost on funds was 10%. Gasper then questioned the fact that no costs were included in the proposed cash budget for plant facilities that would be needed to produce the new product.

Rainey replied that, at the present time, Lift-Off’s produc- tion facilities were being used at only 55% of capacity, and be- cause these facilities were suitable for use in the production of Blast, no new plant facilities would need to be acquired for the production of the new product line. It was estimated that full pro- duction of Blast would only require 10% of the plant capacity.

McDonald then asked if there had been any consideration of increased working capital needs to operate the investment proj- ect. Rainey answered that there had, and that this project would require $200,000 of additional working capital; however, as this money would never leave the firm and would always be in liquid form, it was not considered an outflow and hence not included in the calculations.

Donnalley argued that this project should be charged some- thing for its use of current excess plant facilities. His reasoning was that if another firm had space like this and was willing to rent it out, it could charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 mil- lion. However, he went on to acknowledge that D&D had a strict policy that prohibits renting or leasing any of its production facil- ities to any party from outside the firm. If they didn’t charge for facilities, he concluded, the firm might end up accepting projects that under normal circumstances would be rejected.

From here the discussion continued, centering on the ques- tion of what to do about the lost contribution from other projects, the test marketing costs, and the working capital.

Questions

1. If you were put in the place of Steve Gasper, would you ar- gue for the cost from market testing to be included in a cash outflow?

2. What would your opinion be as to how to deal with the ques- tion of working capital?

3. Would you suggest that the product be charged for the use of excess production facilities and building space?

4. Would you suggest that the cash flows resulting from ero- sion of sales from current laundry detergent products be in- cluded as a cash inflow? If there was a chance of competitors introducing a similar product if you did not in- troduce Blast, would this affect your answer?

5. If debt were used to finance this project, should the inter- est payments associated with this new debt be considered cash flows?

6. What are the NPV, IRR, and PI of this project, both including cash flows resulting from sales diverted from the existing product lines (Exhibit 1) and excluding cash flows resulting from sales diverted from the existing product lines (Exhibit 2)? Under the assumption that there is a good chance that compe- tition will introduce a similar product if you don’t, would you accept or reject this project?

Caledonia Products Calculating Free Cash Flow and Project Valuation

It’s been two months since you took a position as an assistant financial analyst at Caledonia Products. Although your boss has been pleased with your work, he is still a bit hesitant about

unleashing you without supervision. Your next assignment in- volves both the calculation of the cash flows associated with a new investment under consideration and the evaluation of sev-

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 413

Year Units Sold

1 70,000 2 120,000 3 140,000 4 80,000 5 60,000

Questions

1. Why should Caledonia focus on project free cash flows as opposed to the accounting profits earned by the project when analyzing whether to undertake the project?

2. What are the incremental cash flows for the project in years 1 through 5 and how do these cash flows differ from ac- counting profits or earnings?

3. What is the project’s initial outlay?

4. Sketch out a cash flow diagram for this project.

5. What is the project’s net present value?

6. What is its internal rate of return?

7. Should the project be accepted? Why or why not?

eral mutually exclusive projects. Given your lack of tenure at Caledonia, you have been asked not only to provide a recom- mendation, but also to respond to a number of questions aimed at judging your understanding of the capital-budgeting process. The memorandum you received outlining your as- signment follows:

To: The Assistant Financial Analyst

From: Mr. V. Morrison, CEO, Caledonia Products

Re: Cash Flow Analysis and Capital Rationing

We are considering the introduction of a new product. Currently we are in the 34% tax bracket with a 15% discount rate. This project is expected to last five years and then, because this is somewhat of a fad project, it will be terminated. The following information describes the new project:

Cost of new plant and equipment: $ 7,900,000

Shipping and installation costs: $ 100,000

Unit sales:

Sales price per unit: $300/unit in years 1–4 and $260/unit in year 5.

Variable cost per unit: $180/unit

Annual fixed costs: $200,000 per year

Working capital requirements: There will be an initial working capital requirement of $100,000 just to get production started. For each year, the total investment in net working capital will be equal to 10% of the dollar value of sales for that year. Thus, the investment in working capital will increase during years 1 through 3, then decrease in year 4. Finally, all working capital is liquidated at the termination of the project at the end of year 5.

Depreciation method: Straight-line over 5 years assuming the plant and equipment have no salvage value after 5 years.

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

414 PART 3 | Capital Budgeting

Table 12A.1 Percentages for Property Classes

Recovery Year 3-Year 5-Year 7-Year 10-Year 15-Year 20-Year

1 33.3% 20.0% 14.3% 10.0% 5.0% 3.8%

2 44.5 32.0 24.5 18.0 9.5 7.2

3 14.8 19.2 17.5 14.4 8.6 6.7

4 7.4 11.5 12.5 11.5 7.7 6.2

5 11.5 8.9 9.2 6.9 5.7

6 5.8 8.9 7.4 6.2 5.3

7 8.9 6.6 5.9 4.9

8 4.5 6.6 5.9 4.5

9 6.5 5.9 4.5

10 6.5 5.9 4.5

11 3.3 5.9 4.5

12 5.9 4.5

13 5.9 4.5

14 5.9 4.5

15 5.9 4.5

16 3.0 4.5

17 4.5

18 4.5

19 4.5

20 4.5

21 1.7

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Appendix: The Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System

To simplify our computations we have used straight-line depreciation throughout this chapter. However, firms use accelerated depreciation for calculating their taxable income. In fact, since 1987 the modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) has been used. Under the MACRS the depreciation period is based on the asset depreciation range (ADR) system, which groups assets into classes by asset type and industry, and then determines the actual number of years to be used in depreciating the asset. In addition, the MACRS restricts the amount of depre- ciation that may be taken in the year an asset is acquired or sold. These limitations have been called averaging conventions. The two primary conventions, or limitations, may be stated as follows:

1. Half-Year Convention: Personal property, such as machinery, is treated as having been placed in service or disposed of at the midpoint of the taxable year. Thus, a half-year of de- preciation generally is allowed for the taxable year in which property is placed in service and in the final taxable year. As a result, a 3-year property class asset has a depreciation calcula-

IS B

N 1-256-14785-0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

 

 

CHAPTER 12 | Analyzing Project Cash Flows 415

Table 12A.2 MACRS Demonstrated

Year Depreciation Percentage

Annual Depreciation

1 20.0% $ 2,400

2 32.0% 3,840

3 19.2% 2,304

4 11.5% 1,380

5 11.5% 1,380

6 5.8% 696

100.0% $12,000

tion that spans 4 years, with only a half a year’s depreciation in the first and fourth years. In effect, it is assumed that the asset is in service for 6 months during both the first and last year.

2. Mid-Month Convention: Real property, such as buildings, is treated as being placed in ser- vice or disposed of in the middle of the month. Accordingly, a half-month of depreciation is allowed for the month the property is placed in service and also for the final month of service.

Using the MACRS results in a different percentage of the asset being depreciated each year; these percentages are shown in Table 12A.1.

To demonstrate the use of the MACRS, assume that a piece of equipment costs $12,000 and has been assigned to a 5-year class. Using the percentages in Table 12A.1 for a 5-year class as- set, the depreciation deductions would be calculated as shown in Table 12A.2.

Note that the averaging convention that allows for the half-year of depreciation in the first year results and a half-year of depreciation beyond the fifth year, or in year 6.

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?

Depreciation, while an expense, is not a cash flow item. However, depreciation expense lowers the firm’s taxable income which in turn reduces the firm’s tax liability and increases its cash flow. Throughout our calculations in Chapter 12 we used a simplified straight-line depreciation method to keep the calculations simple, but in reality you would use the MACRS method. The advantage of accelerated depreciation is that you end up with more depreciation expense (a non-cash item) in the earlier years and less depreciation expense in the latter years. As a result, you have less tax- able profits in the early years and more taxable profits in the latter years. This reduces taxes in the earlier years when the present values are greatest, while increasing taxes in the latter years when present value are smaller. In effect, the MACRS allows you to postpone paying taxes. Regardless of whether you use straight-line or accelerated depreciation (MACRS), the total depreciation is the same, it is just the timing of when the deprecation is expensed that changes.

Most corporations prepare two sets of books, one for calculating taxes for the IRS in which they use the MACRS, and one for their stockholders in which they use straight-line depreciation. For capital-budgeting purposes, only the set of books used to calculate taxes are relevant.

12A–1.(Depreciation) Compute the annual depreciation for an asset that costs $250,000 and is in the 5-year property class. Use the MACRS in your calculation.

12A–2.(Depreciation) The Mason Falls Mfg. Company just acquired a depreciable asset this year, costing $500,000. Furthermore, the asset falls into the 7-year property class using the MACRS.

a. Using the MACRS, compute the annual depreciation. b. What assumption is being made about when you bought the asset within the year?

Study Problems

IS B

N 1-

25 6-

14 78

5- 0

Financial Management: Principles and Applications, Eleventh Edition, by Sheridan Titman, John D. Martin, and Arthur J. Keown. Published by Prentice Hall. Copyright © 2011 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Analyze the change that was implemented by Daniel Oliveira.

Read the article titled “The Perils and Pitfalls of Leading Change”  (SEE ATTACHMENT)

Next, analyze the change that was implemented by Daniel Oliveira.

Synthesize the change based on Kotter’s eight (8) steps for leading change. Determine if Oliveira followed the Kotter model. Select one (1) of the steps to assess and determine if Oliveira accomplished this step. Why was this an important step? Comment on how following the model may have made his change successful.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

NOTE::>>>>>THIS IS NOT A PAPER.  THIS IS AN ONLINE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.  ALL THAT IS REQUIRED OF YOU IS TO READ THE ATTACHED ARTICLE AND ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.  PROVIDING ANYTHING MORE THAN TWO OR THREE PARAGRAPHS AS AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION IS TOO MUCH!!!!

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Principles Of Managerial Finance

Resource: Principles of Managerial Finance, Ch. 14

Complete the Integrative Case 6 O’Grady Apparel Company.

Please after reading the chapter, I have highlighted the questions that you need to answer. ONLY THE HIGHLIGHTED SECTION IS MINE TO ANSWER THIS IS A TEAM ASSIGNMENT.

 

d.

  • (1) Assuming that the specific financing costs do not change, what effect would a shift to a more highly leveraged capital structure consisting of 50% long-term debt, 10% preferred stock, and 40% common stock have on your previous findings? (Note: Rework parts b and c using these capital structure weights.)
  • (2) Which capital structure–the original one or this one–seems better? Why?

 

Below is Chapter 14

 


14 
Payout Policy

Learning Goals

  • LG 1 Understand cash payout procedures, their tax treatment, and the role of dividend reinvestment plans.
  • LG 2 Describe the residual theory of dividends and the key arguments with regard to dividend irrelevance and relevance.
  • LG 3 Discuss the key factors involved in establishing a dividend policy.
  • LG 4 Review and evaluate the three basic types of dividend policies.
  • LG 5 Evaluate stock dividends from accounting, shareholder, and company points of view.
  • LG 6 Explain stock splits and the firm’s motivation for undertaking them.

Why This Chapter Matters to You

In your professional life

ACCOUNTING You need to understand the types of dividends and payment procedures for them because you will need to record and report the declaration and payment of dividends; you also will provide the financial data that management must have to make dividend decisions.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS You need to understand types of dividends, payment procedures, and the financial data that the firm must have to make and implement dividend decisions.

MANAGEMENT To make appropriate dividend decisions for the firm, you need to understand types of dividends, arguments about the relevance of dividends, the factors that affect dividend policy, and types of dividend policies.

MARKETING You need to understand factors affecting dividend policy because you may want to argue that the firm would be better off retaining funds for use in new marketing programs or products, rather than paying them out as dividends.

OPERATIONS You need to understand factors affecting dividend policy because you may find that the firm’s dividend policy imposes limitations on planned expansion, replacement, or renewal projects.

In your personal life

Many individual investors buy common stock for the anticipated cash dividends. From a personal finance perspective, you should understand why and how firms pay dividends and the informational and financial implications of receiving them. Such understanding will help you select common stocks that have dividend-paying patterns consistent with your long-term financial goals.

Whirlpool Corporation Increasing Dividends

In another sign of an improving economy, Whirlpool Corporation, the worldwide appliance manufacturer, announced that it would increase the quarterly dividend that it paid to its stockholders by 25 percent, up to 62.5 cents per share from 50 cents in the previous quarter. Whirlpool’s CEO, Jeff Fettig, explained, “Our actions have delivered a strong financial position enabling us to enhance returns to shareholders through a dividend increase. This dividend increase underscores our confidence that our long-term growth and innovation strategy will continue to create value for our shareholders.” Markets reacted to this news by increasing Whirlpool’s stock price by 3.2 percent.

Why does Whirlpool pay dividends? Fettig’s press release suggests two possibilities. One is that by paying dividends the company can “enhance returns” to shareholders. In other words, Whirlpool believes that returns to shareholders will be higher if the firm pays a dividend (and increases it) than if the firm does not pay a dividend. That sounds logical, but consider that when a firm pays a dividend, it is simply taking cash out of its bank account and putting that cash in the hands of shareholders. Presumably, after a firm pays a dividend, its share price will reflect that it no longer holds as much cash as it did prior to the dividend payment. In other words, paying a dividend may simply be just switching money from one pocket (the company’s) to another (the shareholder’s).

Another reason that Whirlpool may pay a dividend is revealed in the second part of Fettig’s statement. Whirlpool increased its dividend to “underscore our confidence.” In other words, Whirlpool executives are telling the market that the firm’s financial position is strong enough and its prospects bright enough that managers are confident that they can afford to increase the dividend by 25 percent and still run the company effectively. Indeed, Whirlpool’s history suggests that managers use caution when increasing dividends. From 1995 to 2013, Whirlpool increased its dividend on just three occasions. Compare that record with the dividend history of Emerson Electric Co., a company that as of 2013 had increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years. Apparently Emerson and Whirlpool adopt different policies with respect to dividend increases.

14.1 The Basics of Payout Policy

LG 1

The term payout policy refers to the decisions that firms make about whether to distribute cash to shareholders, how much cash to distribute, and by what means the cash should be distributed. Although these decisions are probably less important than the investment decisions covered inChapters 10 through 12 and the financing choices discussed in Chapter 13, they are nonetheless decisions that managers and boards of directors face routinely. Investors monitor firms’ payout policies carefully, and unexpected changes in those policies can have significant effects on firms’ stock prices. The recent history of Whirlpool Corporation, briefly outlined in the chapter opener, demonstrates many of the important dimensions of payout policy.

payout policy

Decisions that a firm makes regarding whether to distribute cash to shareholders, how much cash to distribute, and the means by which cash should be distributed.

ELEMENTS OF PAYOUT POLICY

Dividends are not the only means by which firms can distribute cash to shareholders. Firms can also conduct share repurchases, in which they typically buy back some of their outstanding common stock through purchases in the open market. Whirlpool Corporation, like many other companies, uses both methods to put cash in the hands of their stockholders. In addition to increasing its dividend payout, Whirlpool also resumed its share repurchase program in 2013, which had been halted during the economic recession. At the time of resuming the share repurchase program, the company’s free cash flow was between $600 million and $650 million and expected to increase to between $650 million and $700 million. Whirlpool’s chief executive officier, Jeff Fettig, stated that “sales increased in every region of the world” as the company continued to expand its margins and that as the company continued to execute its “long-term growth strategy . . . [it would] continue to drive actions to further create value for . . . shareholders.”

If we generalize the lessons about payout policy, we may expect the following to be true:

  • 1. Rapidly growing firms generally do not pay out cash to shareholders.
  • 2. Slowing growth, positive cash flow generation, and favorable tax conditions can prompt firms to initiate cash payouts to investors. The ownership base of the company can also be an important factor in the decision to distribute cash.
  • 3. Cash payouts can be made through dividends or share repurchases. Many companies use both methods. In some years, more cash is paid out via dividends, but sometimes share repurchases are larger than dividend payments.
  • 4. When business conditions are weak, firms are more willing to reduce share buybacks than to cut dividends.

TRENDS IN EARNINGS AND DIVIDENDS

Figure 14.1 illustrates both long-term trends and cyclical movements in earnings and dividends paid by large U.S. firms that are part of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Composite Index. The figure plots monthly earnings and dividend payments from 1950 through the first quarter of 2013. The top line represents the earnings per share of the S&P 500 index, and the lower line represents dividends per share. The vertical bars highlight ten periods during which the U.S. economy was in recession. Several important lessons can be gleaned from the figure. First, observe that over the long term the earnings and dividends lines tend to move together. Figure 14.1 uses a logarithmic scale, so the slope of each line represents the growth rate of earnings or dividends. Over the 60 years shown in the figure, the two lines tend to have about the same slope, meaning that earnings and dividends grow at about the same rate when you take a long-term perspective. It makes perfect sense: Firms pay dividends out of earnings, so for dividends to grow over the long-term, earnings must grow too.

FIGURE 14.1 Per Share Earnings and Dividends of the S&P 500 Index

Monthly U.S. dollar amount of earnings and dividends per share of the S&P 500 index from 1950 through the first quarter of 2013 (the figure uses a logarithmic vertical scale)

Second, the earnings series is much more volatile than the dividends series. That is, the line plotting earnings per share is quite bumpy, but the dividend line is much smoother, which suggests that firms do not adjust their dividend payments each time earnings move up or down. Instead, firms tend to smooth dividends, increasing them slowly when earnings are growing rapidly and maintaining dividend payments, rather than cutting them, when earnings decline.

To see this second point more clearly, look closely at the vertical bars in Figure 14.1. It is apparent that during recessions corporate earnings usually decline, but dividends either do not decline at all or do not decline as sharply as earnings. In six of the last ten recessions, dividends were actually higher when the recession ended than just before it began, although the last two recessions are notable exceptions to this pattern. Note also that, just after the end of a recession, earnings typically increase quite rapidly. Dividends increase, too, but not as fast.

A third lesson from Figure 14.1 is that the effect of the recent recession on both corporate earnings and dividends was large by historical standards. An enormous earnings decline occurred from 2007 to 2009. This decline forced firms to cut dividends more drastically than they had in years; nonetheless, the drop in dividends was slight compared with the earnings decrease.

Matter of fact

P&G’s Dividend History

Few companies have replicated the dividend achievements of the consumer products giant Procter & Gamble (P&G). P&G has paid dividends every year for more than a century, and it increased its dividend in every year from 1956 through 2012.

TRENDS IN DIVIDENDS AND SHARE REPURCHASES

When firms want to distribute cash to shareholders, they can either pay dividends or repurchase outstanding shares. Figure 14.2 plots aggregate dividends and share repurchases from 1971 through 2011 for all U.S. firms listed on U.S. stock exchanges (again, the figure uses a logarithmic vertical scale). A quick glance at the figure reveals that share repurchases played a relatively minor role in firms’ payout practices in the 1970s. In 1971, for example, aggregate dividends totaled $21 billion, but share repurchases that year were just $1.1 billion. In the 1980s, share repurchases began to grow rapidly and then slowed again in the early 1990s. The value of aggregate share repurchases first eclipsed total dividend payments in 1998. That year, firms paid $175 billion in dividends, but they repurchased $185 billion worth of stock. Share repurchases continued to outpace dividends for all but three of the next 13 years, peaking at $677 billion in 2007.

Whereas aggregate dividends rise smoothly over time, Figure 14.2 shows that share repurchases display much more volatility. The largest drops in repurchase activity occurred in 1974–1975, 1981, 1986, 1989–1991, 2000–2002, and 2008–2010. All these drops correspond to periods when the U.S. economy was mired in or just emerging from a recession. During most of these periods, dividends continued to grow modestly. Only during the recent, severe recession did both share repurchases and dividends fall.

FIGURE 14.2 Aggregate Dividends and Repurchases for All U.S.–Listed Companies

Aggregate U.S. dollar amount of dividends and share repurchases for all U.S. firms listed on U.S. stock exchanges in each year from 1971 through 2011 (the figure uses a logarithmic vertical scale)

in practice focus on ETHICS: Are Buybacks Really a Bargain?

When CBS announced in March 2007 that it would buy back $1.4 billion worth of stock, its sagging share price saw the biggest spike since the media giant parted ways with Viacom in 2005. The 4.5 percent jump may have been an omen of good fortune—at the very least, it showed how much shareholders like buybacks.

Companies have been gobbling up their own shares faster than ever in a world of inexpensive capital and swollen balance sheets. Since 2003, the market for buybacks has boomed, with repurchases nearly on a par with capital expenditures. Some, however, have questioned the moves and motives that lead to a big buyback.

In addition to simply returning cash to shareholders, many companies also repurchase stock because they believe that their stock is undervalued. New research, however, shows that companies often use creative financial reporting to push earnings downward before buybacks, making the stock seem undervalued and causing its price to bounce higher after the buyback. That pleases investors who then amplify the effect by pushing the price even higher.

“Managers who are acting opportunistically can use their reporting discretion to reduce the repurchase price by temporarily deflating earnings,” argue Guojin Gong, Henock Louis, and Amy Sun at Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business. Observing data from 1,720 companies, the authors say companies can easily create an apparent slump by speeding up or slowing down expense recognition, changing inventory accounting, or revising estimates of bad debt, all of which are classic methods of making the numbers look worse without actually breaking accounting rules.

The penalty for being caught deliberately managing earnings in advance of a buyback could be severe. With the variety of accounting scandals that popped up regularly in the early 2000s, executives would no doubt be wary of deflating earnings just to get a boost from a buyback. Still, that’s what Louis believes some are doing. “I don’t think what they’re doing is illegal,” he says. “But it’s misleading their investors.”

 Do you agree that corporate managers would manipulate their stock’s value prior to a buyback, or do you believe that corporations are more likely to initiate a buyback to enhance shareholder value?

Combining the lessons from Figures 14.1 and 14.2, we can draw three broad conclusions about firms’ payout policies. First, firms exhibit a strong desire to maintain modest, steady growth in dividends that is roughly consistent with the long-run growth in earnings. Second, share repurchases have accounted for a growing fraction of total cash payouts over time. Third, when earnings fluctuate, firms adjust their short-term payouts primarily by adjusting share repurchases (rather than dividends), cutting buybacks during recessions, and increasing them rapidly during economic expansions.

 Matter of fact

Share Repurchases Gain Worldwide Popularity

The growing importance of share repurchases in corporate payout policy is not confined to the United States. In most of the world’s largest economies, repurchases have been on the rise in recent years, eclipsing dividend payments at least some of the time in countries as diverse as Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, and Switzerland. A study of payout policy at firms from 25 different countries found that share repurchases rose at an annual rate of 19 percent from 1999 through 2008.

 REVIEW QUESTIONS

14–1What are the two ways that firms can distribute cash to shareholders?

14–2Why do rapidly growing firms generally pay no dividends?

14–3The dividend payout ratio equals dividends paid divided by earnings.

How would you expect this ratio to behave during a recession? What about during an economic boom?

14.2 The Mechanics of Payout Policy

LG 1

At quarterly or semiannual meetings, a firm’s board of directors decides whether and in what amount to pay cash dividends. If the firm has already established a precedent of paying dividends, the decision facing the board is usually whether to maintain or increase the dividend, and that decision is based primarily on the firm’s recent performance and its ability to generate cash flow in the future. Boards rarely cut dividends unless they believe that the firm’s ability to generate cash is in serious jeopardy. Figure 14.3 plots the number of U.S. public industrial firms that increased, decreased, or maintained their dividend payment in each year from 1981 through 2011. Clearly, the number of firms increasing their dividends is far greater than the number of companies cutting dividends in most years. When the economy is strong, as it was from 2003 to 2006, the ratio of industrial firms increasing dividends to those cutting dividends may be 10 to 1 or higher. However, a sign of the severity of the most recent recession was that in 2009 this ratio was just 1.5 to 1. That year, 401 U.S. public industrial firms increased their dividend, whereas 266 firms cut dividends.

FIGURE 14.3 U.S. Public Industrial Firms Increasing, Decreasing, or Maintaining Dividends

Number of U.S. public industrial firms that increased, decreased, or maintained their dividend payment in each year from 1981 through 2011

Figure 14.3 clearly shows that firms prefer to increase rather than decrease dividends, but what is most evident is that firms prefer to maintain their established dividend levels. In the average year, 79 percent of U.S. industrial firms elect to maintain their previous year’s dividend payout, and 96 percent avoid decreasing their dividend. Although some firms will choose to grow their dividend payout, the main goal of nearly all firms is to do whatever is necessary to avoid cutting dividends.

CASH DIVIDEND PAYMENT PROCEDURES

When a firm’s directors declare a dividend, they issue a statement indicating the dividend amount and setting three important dates: the date of record, the ex-dividend date, and the payment date. All persons whose names are recorded as stockholders on the date of record receive the dividend. These stockholders are often referred to as holders of record.

date of record (dividends)

Set by the firm’s directors, the date on which all persons whose names are recorded as stockholders receive a declared dividend at a specified future time.

Because of the time needed to make bookkeeping entries when a stock is traded, the stock begins selling ex dividend 2 business days prior to the date of record. Purchasers of a stock selling ex dividend do not receive the current dividend. A simple way to determine the first day on which the stock sells ex dividend is to subtract 2 business days from the date of record.

ex dividend

A period beginning 2 business days prior to the date of record, during which a stock is sold without the right to receive the current dividend.

The payment date is the actual date on which the firm mails the dividend payment to the holders of record. It is generally a few weeks after the record date. An example will clarify the various dates and the accounting effects.

payment date

Set by the firm’s directors, the actual date on which the firm mails the dividend payment to the holders of record.

Example 14.1

On August 21, 2013, the board of directors of Best Buy announced that the firm’s next quarterly cash dividend would be $0.17 per share, payable on October 1, 2013, to shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Best Buy shares would begin trading ex dividend on the previous Friday, September 6. At the time of the announcement, Best Buy had 340,967,179 shares of common stock outstanding, so the total dividend payment would be $57,964,420. Figure 14.4 shows a time line depicting the key dates relative to the Best Buy dividend. Before the dividend was declared, the key accounts of the firm were as follows (dollar values quoted in thousands):1

FIGURE 14.4 Dividend Payment Time Line

Time line for the announcement and payment of a cash dividend for Best Buy

Cash $680,000 Dividends payable $       0
    Retained earnings  3,395,000

When the dividend was announced by the directors, almost $58 million of the retained earnings ($0.17 per share × 341 million shares) was transferred to the dividends payable account. The key accounts thus became

Cash $680,000 Dividends payable $  57,964
    Retained earnings  3,337,036

When Best Buy actually paid the dividend on October 26, this produced the following balances in the key accounts of the firm:

Cash $622,036 Dividends payable $       0
    Retained earnings  3,337,036

The net effect of declaring and paying the dividend was to reduce the firm’s total assets (and stockholders’ equity) by almost $58 million.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROCEDURES

1. The accounting transactions described here reflect only the effects of the dividend. Best Buy’s actual financial statements during this period obviously reflect many other transactions.

The mechanics of cash dividend payments are virtually the same for every dividend paid by every public company. With share repurchases, firms can use at least two different methods to get cash into the hands of shareholders. The most common method of executing a share repurchase program is called an open-market share repurchase. In an open-market share repurchase, as the name suggests, firms simply buy back some of their outstanding shares on the open market. Firms have a great deal of latitude regarding when and how they execute these open-market purchases. Some firms make purchases in fixed amounts at regular intervals, whereas other firms try to behave more opportunistically, buying back more shares when they think that the share price is relatively low and fewer shares when they think that the price is high.

open-market share repurchase

A share repurchase program in which firms simply buy back some of their outstanding shares on the open market.

In contrast, firms sometimes repurchase shares through a self-tender offer or simply a tender offer. In a tender offer share repurchase, a firm announces the price it is willing to pay to buy back shares and the quantity of shares it wishes to repurchase. The tender offer price is usually set at a significant premium above the current market price. Shareholders who want to participate let the firm know how many shares they would like to sell back to the firm at the stated price. If shareholders do not offer to sell back as many shares as the firm wants to repurchase, the firm may either cancel or extend the offer. If the offer is oversubscribed, meaning that shareholders want to sell more shares than the firms wants to repurchase, the firm typically repurchases shares on a pro rata basis. For example, if the firm wants to buy back 10 million shares, but 20 million shares are tendered by investors, the firm would repurchase exactly half of the shares tendered by each shareholder.

tender offer share repurchase

A repurchase program in which a firm offers to repurchase a fixed number of shares, usually at a premium relative to the market value, and shareholders decide whether or not they want to sell back their shares at that price.

A third method of buying back shares is called a Dutch auction share repurchase. In a Dutch auction, the firm specifies a range of prices at which it is willing to repurchase shares and the quantity of shares that it desires. Investors can tender their shares to the firm at any price in the specified range, which allows the firm to trace out a demand curve for their stock. That is, the demand curve specifies how many shares investors will sell back to the firm at each price in the offer range. This analysis allows the firm to determine the minimum price required to repurchase the desired quantity of shares, and every shareholder receives that price.

Dutch auction share repurchase

A repurchase method in which the firm specifies how many shares it wants to buy back and a range of prices at which it is willing to repurchase shares. Investors specify how many shares they will sell at each price in the range, and the firm determines the minimum price required to repurchase its target number of shares. All investors who tender receive the same price.

Example 14.2

In July 2013, Fidelity National Information Services announced a Dutch auction repurchase for 86 million common shares at prices ranging from $29 to $31.50 per share. Fidelity shareholders were instructed to contact the company to indicate how many shares they would be willing to sell at different prices in this range. Suppose that after accumulating this information from investors, Fidelity constructed the following demand schedule:

Offer price Shares tendered Cumulative total
$29  5,000,000   5,000,000
 29.25 10,000,000  15,000,000
 29.50 15,000,000  30,000,000
 29.75 18,000,000  48,000,000
 30 18,500,000  66,500,000
 31.25 19,500,000  86,000,000
 31.50 20,000,000 106,000,000

At a price of $31.25, shareholders are willing to tender a total of 86 million shares, exactly the amount that Fidelity wants to repurchase. Each shareholder who expressed a willingness to tender their shares at a price of $31.25 or less receives $31.25, and Fidelity repurchases all 86 million shares at a cost of roughly $2.7 billion.

TAX TREATMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND REPURCHASES

For many years, dividends and share repurchases had very different tax consequences. The dividends that investors received were generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates. Therefore, if a firm paid $10 million in dividends, that payout would trigger significant tax liabilities for the firm’s shareholders (at least those subject to personal income taxes). On the other hand, when firms repurchased shares, the taxes triggered by that type of payout were generally much lower. There were several reasons for this difference. Only those shareholders who sold their shares as part of the repurchase program had any immediate tax liability. Shareholders who did not participate did not owe any taxes. Furthermore, some shareholders who did participate in the repurchase program might not owe any taxes on the funds they received if they were tax-exempt institutions or if they sold their shares at a loss. Finally, even those shareholders who participated in the repurchase program and sold their shares for a profit paid taxes only at the (usually lower) capital gains tax rate, (assuming the shares were held for at least one year), and even that tax only applied to the gain, not to the entire value of the shares repurchased. Consequently, investors could generally expect to pay far less in taxes on money that a firm distributed through a share repurchase compared to money paid out as dividends. That differential tax treatment in part explains the growing popularity of share repurchase programs in the 1980s and 1990s.

The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 significantly changed the tax treatment of corporate dividends for most taxpayers. Prior to passage of the 2003 law, dividends received by investors were taxed as ordinary income at rates as high as 35 percent. The 2003 act reduced the tax rate on corporate dividends for most taxpayers to the tax rate applicable to capital gains, which is a maximum rate of 5 percent to 15 percent, depending on the taxpayer’s tax bracket. This change significantly diminishes the degree of “double taxation” of dividends, which results when the corporation is first taxed on its income and then shareholders pay taxes on the dividends that they receive. After-tax cash flow to dividend recipients is much greater at the lower applicable tax rate; the result is noticeably higher dividend payouts by corporations today than prior to passage of the 2003 legislation.

In early 2012, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. For eveyone except those individuals in the newly established highest tax bracket, dividends and capital gains continue to be taxed at 15 percent. (For more details on the impact of the 2012 act, see the Focus on Practice box.)

Personal Finance Example 14.3

My Finance Lab Solution Video

The board of directors of Espinoza Industries, Inc., on October 4 of the current year, declared a quarterly dividend of $0.46 per share payable to all holders of record on Friday, October 30, with a payment date of November 19. Rob and Kate Heckman, who purchased 500 shares of Espinoza’s common stock on Thursday, October 15, wish to determine whether they will receive the recently declared dividend and, if so, when and how much they would net after taxes from the dividend given that the dividends would be subject to a 15% federal income tax.

in practice focus on PRACTICE: Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Treatment Extended to 2012 and Beyond for Some

In 1980, the percentage of firms paying monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual dividends stood at 60 percent. By the end of 2002, this number had declined to 20 percent. In May 2003, President George W. Bush signed into law the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003(JGTRRA). Prior to that new law, dividends were taxed once as part of corporate earnings and again as the personal income of the investor, in both cases with a potential top rate of 35 percent. The result was an effective tax rate of 57.75 percent on some dividends. Although the 2003 tax law did not completely eliminate the double taxation of dividends, it reduced the maximum possible effect of the double taxation of dividends to 44.75 percent. For taxpayers in the lower tax brackets, the combined effect was a maximum of 38.25 percent. Both the number of companies paying dividends and the amount of dividends spiked following the lowering of tax rates on dividends. For example, total dividends paid rose almost 14 percent in the first quarter after the new tax law was enacted, and the percentage of firms initiating dividends rose by nearly 40 percent the same quarter.

The tax rates under JGTRRA were originally programmed to expire at the end of 2008. However, in May 2006, Congress passed the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), extending the beneficial tax rates for 2 more years. Taxpayers in tax brackets above 15 percent paid a 15 percent rate on dividends paid before December 31, 2008. For taxpayers with a marginal tax rate of 15 percent or lower, the dividend tax rate was 5 percent until December 31, 2007, and 0 percent from 2008 to 2010. Long-term capital gains tax rates were reduced to the same rates as the new dividend tax rates through 2010. Although JGTRRA expired at the end of 2010, Congress extended the law until 2012 by passing the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

At the onset of 2012, the pre-JGTRRA taxation of dividends would reappear unless further legislation made the law permanent. Those arguing to make the JGTRRA permanent pointed toward the weak economy and suggested that taxes needed to remain low to stimulate business investment and job creation. Others noted that the U.S. budget deficit was at an all-time high, so some combination of higher taxes and reduced spending was necessary to avoid economic problems associated with too much debt.

In early 2012, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. For individuals in the 25 percent, 28 percent, 33 percent, and 35 percent income tax brackets, qualified dividends as well as capital gains continue to be taxed at 15 percent. However, for individuals with more than $400,000 in taxable income—and couples with more than $450,000—the rate increased to 20 percent. As was the case under JGTRRA, people in the 10 percent and 15 percent brackets, as before, will have a zero tax rate on dividends and capital gains.

 How might the expected future reappearance of higher tax rates on individuals receiving dividends affect corporate dividend payout policies?

Given the Friday, October 30, date of record, the stock would begin selling ex dividend 2 business days earlier on Wednesday, October 28. Purchasers of the stock on or before Tuesday, October 27, would receive the right to the dividend. Because the Heckmans purchased the stock on October 15, they would be eligible to receive the dividend of $0.46 per share. Thus, the Heckmans will receive $230 in dividends ($0.46 per share × 500 shares), which will be mailed to them on the November 19 payment date. Because they are subject to a 15% federal income tax on the dividends, the Heckmans will net $195.50 [(1 − 0.15) × $230] after taxes from the Espinoza Industries dividend.

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLANS

Today, many firms offer dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs), which enable stockholders to use dividends received on the firm’s stock to acquire additional shares—even fractional shares—at little or no transaction cost. Some companies even allow investors to make their initial purchases of the firm’s stock directly from the company without going through a broker. With DRIPs, plan participants typically can acquire shares at about 5 percent below the prevailing market price. From its point of view, the firm can issue new shares to participants more economically, avoiding the underpricing and flotation costs that would accompany the public sale of new shares. Clearly, the existence of a DRIP may enhance the market appeal of a firm’s shares.

dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs)

Plans that enable stockholders to use dividends received on the firm’s stock to acquire additional shares—even fractional shares—at little or no transaction cost.

STOCK PRICE REACTIONS TO CORPORATE PAYOUTS

What happens to the stock price when a firm pays a dividend or repurchases shares? In theory, the answers to those questions are straightforward. Take a dividend payment for example. Suppose that a firm has $1 billion in assets, financed entirely by 10 million shares of common stock. Each share should be worth $100 ($1 billion ÷ 10,000,000 shares). Now suppose that the firm pays a $1 per share cash dividend, for a total dividend payout of $10 million. The assets of the firm fall to $990 million. Because shares outstanding remain at 10 million, each share should be worth $99. In other words, the stock price should fall by $1, exactly the amount of the dividend. The reduced share price simply reflects that cash formerly held by the firm is now in the hands of investors. To be precise, this reduction in share price should occur not when the dividend checks are mailed but rather when the stock begins trading ex dividend.

For share repurchases, the intuition is that “you get what you pay for.” In other words, if the firm buys back shares at the going market price, the reduction in cash is exactly offset by the reduction in the number of shares outstanding, so the market price of the stock should remain the same. Once again, consider the firm with $1 billion in assets and 10 million shares outstanding worth $100 each. Let’s say that the firm decides to distribute $10 million in cash by repurchasing 100,000 shares of stock. After the repurchase is completed, the firm’s assets will fall by $10 million to $990 million, but the shares outstanding will fall by 100,000 to 9,900,000. The new share price is therefore $990,000,000 ÷ 9,900,000, or $100, as before.

In practice, taxes and a variety of other market imperfections may cause the actual change in share price in response to a dividend payment or share repurchase to deviate from what we expect in theory. Furthermore, the stock price reaction to a cash payout may be different than the reaction to an announcement about an upcoming payout. For example, when a firm announces that it will increase its dividend, the share price usually rises on that news, even though the share price will fall when the dividend is actually paid. The next section discusses the impact of payout policy on the value of the firm in greater depth.

 REVIEW QUESTIONS

14–4Who are holders of record? When does a stock sell ex dividend?

14–5What effect did the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 have on the taxation of corporate dividends? On corporate dividend payouts?

14–6What benefit is available to participants in a dividend reinvestment plan? How might the firm benefit?

14.3 Relevance of Payout Policy

LG 2

The financial literature has reported numerous theories and empirical findings concerning payout policy. Although this research provides some interesting insights about payout policy, capital budgeting and capital structure decisions are generally considered far more important than payout decisions. In other words, firms should not sacrifice good investment and financing decisions for a payout policy of questionable importance.

The most important question about payout policy is this one: Does payout policy have a significant effect on the value of a firm? A number of theoretical and empirical answers to this question have been proposed, but as yet there is no widely accepted rule to help a firm find its “optimal” payout policy. Most of the theories that have been proposed to explain the consequences of payout policy have focused on dividends. From here on, we will use the terms dividend policy and payout policyinterchangeably, meaning that we make no distinction between dividend payouts and share repurchases in terms of the theories that try to explain whether these policies have an effect on firm value.

RESIDUAL THEORY OF DIVIDENDS

The residual theory of dividends is a school of thought that suggests that the dividend paid by a firm should be viewed as a residual, that is, the amount left over after all acceptable investment opportunities have been undertaken. Using this approach, the firm would treat the dividend decision in three steps as follows:

residual theory of dividends

A school of thought that suggests that the dividend paid by a firm should be viewed as a residual,the amount left over after all acceptable investment opportunities have been undertaken.

  • Step 1 Determine its optimal level of capital expenditures, which would be the level that exploits all a firm’s positive NPV projects.
  • Step 2 Using the optimal capital structure proportions (see Chapter 13), estimate the total amount of equity financing needed to support the expenditures generated in Step 1.
  • Step 3 Because the cost of retained earnings, rr, is less than the cost of new common stock, rn, use retained earnings to meet the equity requirement determined in Step 2. If retained earnings are inadequate to meet this need, sell new common stock. If the available retained earnings are in excess of this need, distribute the surplus amount—the residual—as dividends.

According to this approach, as long as the firm’s equity need exceeds the amount of retained earnings, no cash dividend is paid. The argument for this approach is that it is sound management to be certain that the company has the money it needs to compete effectively. This view of dividends suggests that the required return of investors, rs, is not influenced by the firm’s dividend policy, a premise that in turn implies that dividend policy is irrelevant in the sense that it does not affect firm value.

THE DIVIDEND IRRELEVANCE THEORY

The residual theory of dividends implies that if the firm cannot invest its earnings to earn a return that exceeds the cost of capital, it should distribute the earnings by paying dividends to stockholders. This approach suggests that dividends represent an earnings residual rather than an active decision variable that affects the firm’s value. Such a view is consistent with the dividend irrelevance theory put forth by Merton H. Miller and Franco Modigliani (M and M).2 They argue that the firm’s value is determined solely by the earning power and risk of its assets (investments) and that the manner in which it splits its earnings stream between dividends and internally retained (and reinvested) funds does not affect this value. M and M’s theory suggests that in a perfect world (certainty, no taxes, no transactions costs, and no other market imperfections), the value of the firm is unaffected by the distribution of dividends.

dividend irrelevance theory

Miller and Modigliani’s theory that, in a perfect world, the firm’s value is determined solely by the earning power and risk of its assets (investments) and that the manner in which it splits its earnings stream between dividends and internally retained (and reinvested) funds does not affect this value.

Of course, real markets do not satisfy the “perfect markets” assumptions of Modigliani and Miller’s original theory. One market imperfection that may be important is taxation. Historically, dividends have usually been taxed at higher rates than capital gains. A firm that pays out its earnings as dividends may trigger higher tax liabilities for its investors than a firm that retains earnings. As a firm retains earnings, its share price should rise, and investors enjoy capital gains. Investors can defer paying taxes on these gains indefinitely simply by not selling their shares. Even if they do sell their shares, they may pay a relatively low tax rate on the capital gains. In contrast, when a firm pays dividends, investors receive cash immediately and pay taxes at the rates dictated by then-current tax laws.

Even though this discussion makes it seem that retaining profits rather than paying them out as dividends may be better for shareholders on an after-tax basis, Modigliani and Miller argue that this assumption may not be the case. They observe that not all investors are subject to income taxation. Some institutional investors, such as pension funds, do not pay taxes on the dividends and capital gains that they earn. For these investors, the payout policies of different firms have no impact on the taxes that investors have to pay. Therefore, Modigliani and Miller argue, there can be a clientele effect in which different types of investors are attracted to firms with different payout policies due to tax effects. Tax-exempt investors may invest more heavily in firms that pay dividends because they are not affected by the typically higher tax rates on dividends. Investors who would have to pay higher taxes on dividends may prefer to invest in firms that retain more earnings rather than paying dividends. If a firm changes its payout policy, the value of the firm will not change; instead, what will change is the type of investor who holds the firm’s shares. According to this argument, tax clienteles mean that payout policies cannot affect firm value, but they can affect the ownership base of the company.

clientele effect

The argument that different payout policies attract different types of investors but still do not change the value of the firm.

In summary, M and M and other proponents of dividend irrelevance argue that, all else being equal, an investor’s required return—and therefore the value of the firm—is unaffected by dividend policy. In other words, there is no “optimal” dividend policy for a particular firm.

ARGUMENTS FOR DIVIDEND RELEVANCE

2. Merton H. Miller and Franco Modigliani, “Dividend Policy, Growth and the Valuation of Shares,” Journal of Business34 (October 1961), pp. 411–433.

Modigliani and Miller’s assertion that dividend policy was irrelevant was a radical idea when it was first proposed. The prevailing wisdom at the time was that payout policy could improve the value of the firm and therefore was relevant. The key argument in support of dividend relevance theoryis attributed to Myron J. Gordon and John Lintner,3 who suggest that there is, in fact, a direct relationship between the firm’s dividend policy and its market value. Fundamental to this proposition is their bird-in-the-hand argument, which suggests that investors see current dividends as less risky than future dividends or capital gains: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” Gordon and Lintner argue that current dividend payments reduce investor uncertainty, causing investors to discount the firm’s earnings at a lower rate and, all else being equal, to place a higher value on the firm’s stock. Conversely, if dividends are reduced or are not paid, investor uncertainty will increase, raising the required return and lowering the stock’s value.

dividend relevance theory

The theory, advanced by Gordon and Lintner, that there is a direct relationship between a firm’s dividend policy and its market value.

bird-in-the-hand argument

The belief, in support of dividend relevance theory, that investors see current dividends as less risky than future dividends or capital gains.

Modigliani and Miller argued that the bird-in-the-hand theory was a fallacy. They said that investors who want immediate cash flow from a firm that did not pay dividends could simply sell off a portion of their shares. Remember that the stock price of a firm that retains earnings should rise over time as cash builds up inside the firm. By selling a few shares every quarter or every year, investors could, according to Modigliani and Miller, replicate the same cash flow stream that they would have received if the firm had paid dividends rather than retaining earnings.

Studies have shown that large changes in dividends do affect share price. Increases in dividends result in increased share price, and decreases in dividends result in decreased share price. One interpretation of this evidence is that it is not the dividends per se that matter but rather theinformational content of dividends with respect to future earnings. In other words, investors view a change in dividends, up or down, as a signal that management expects future earnings to change in the same direction. Investors view an increase in dividends as a positive signal, and they bid up the share price. They view a decrease in dividends as a negative signal that causes investors to sell their shares, resulting in the share price decreasing.

informational content

The information provided by the dividends of a firm with respect to future earnings, which causes owners to bid up or down the price of the firm’s stock.

Another argument in support of the idea that dividends can affect the value of the firm is theagency cost theory. Recall that agency costs are costs that arise due to the separation between the firm’s owners and its managers. Managers sometimes have different interests than owners. Managers may want to retain earnings simply to increase the size of the firm’s asset base. There is greater prestige and perhaps higher compensation associated with running a larger firm. Shareholders are aware of the temptations that managers face, and they worry that retained earnings may not be invested wisely. The agency cost theory says that a firm that commits to paying dividends is reassuring shareholders that managers will not waste their money. Given this reassurance, investors will pay higher prices for firms that promise regular dividend payments.

Although many other arguments related to dividend relevance have been put forward, empirical studies have not provided evidence that conclusively settles the debate about whether and how payout policy affects firm value. As we have already said, even if dividend policy really matters, it is almost certainly less important than other decisions that financial mangers make, such as the decision to invest in a large new project or the decision about what combination of debt and equity the firm should use to finance its operations. Still, most financial managers today, especially those running large corporations, believe that payout policy can affect the value of the firm.

3. Myron J. Gordon, “Optimal Investment and Financing Policy,” Journal of Finance 18 (May 1963), pp. 264–272; and John Lintner, “Dividends, Earnings, Leverage, Stock Prices, and the Supply of Capital to Corporations,” Review of Economics and Statistics 44 (August 1962), pp. 243–269.

 REVIEW QUESTIONS

14–7Does following the residual theory of dividends lead to a stable dividend? Is this approach consistent with dividend relevance?

14–8Contrast the basic arguments about dividend policy advanced by Miller and Modigliani (M and M) and by Gordon and Lintner.

14.4 Factors Affecting Dividend Policy

LG 3

The firm’s dividend policy represents a plan of action to be followed whenever it makes a dividend decision. Firms develop policies consistent with their goals. Before we review some of the popular types of dividend policies, we discuss five factors that firms consider in establishing a dividend policy. They are legal constraints, contractual constraints, the firm’s growth prospects, owner considerations, and market considerations.

dividend policy

The firm’s plan of action to be followed whenever it makes a dividend decision.

LEGAL CONSTRAINTS

Most states prohibit corporations from paying out as cash dividends any portion of the firm’s “legal capital,” which is typically measured by the par value of common stock. Other states define legal capital to include not only the par value of the common stock but also any paid-in capital in excess of par. These capital impairment restrictions are generally established to provide a sufficient equity base to protect creditors’ claims. An example will clarify the differing definitions of capital.

Example 14.4

The stockholders’ equity account of Miller Flour Company, a large grain processor, is presented in the following table.

Miller Flour Company Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock at par $100,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par  200,000
Retained earnings  140,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $440,000

In states where the firm’s legal capital is defined as the par value of its common stock, the firm could pay out $340,000 ($200,000 + $140,000) in cash dividends without impairing its capital. In states where the firm’s legal capital includes all paid-in capital, the firm could pay out only $140,000 in cash dividends.

Firms sometimes impose an earnings requirement limiting the amount of dividends. With this restriction, the firm cannot pay more in cash dividends than the sum of its most recent and past retained earnings. However, the firm is not prohibited from paying more in dividends than its current earnings.4

4. A firm that has an operating loss in the current period can still pay cash dividends as long as sufficient retained earnings against which to charge the dividend are available and, of course, as long as it has the cash with which to make the payments.

Example 14.5

Assume that Miller Flour Company, from the preceding example, in the year just ended has $30,000 in earnings available for common stock dividends. As the table in Example 14.4 indicates, the firm has past retained earnings of $140,000. Thus, it can legally pay dividends of up to $170,000.

If a firm has overdue liabilities or is legally insolvent or bankrupt, most states prohibit its payment of cash dividends. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service prohibits firms from accumulating earnings to reduce the owners’ taxes. If the IRS can determine that a firm has accumulated an excess of earnings to allow owners to delay paying ordinary income taxes on dividends received, it may levy an excess earnings accumulation tax on any retained earnings above $250,000 for most businesses.

excess earnings accumulation tax

The tax the IRS levies on retained earnings above $250,000 for most businesses when it determines that the firm has accumulated an excess of earnings to allow owners to delay paying ordinary income taxes on dividends received.

During the recent financial crisis, a number of financial institutions received federal financial assistance. Those firms had to agree to restrictions on dividend payments to shareholders until they repaid the money that they received from the government. Bank of America, for example, had more than 30 years of consecutive dividend increases before accepting federal bailout money. As part of its bailout, Bank of America had to cut dividends to $0.01 per share.

CONTRACTUAL CONSTRAINTS

Often, the firm’s ability to pay cash dividends is constrained by restrictive provisions in a loan agreement. Generally, these constraints prohibit the payment of cash dividends until the firm achieves a certain level of earnings, or they may limit dividends to a certain dollar amount or percentage of earnings. Constraints on dividends help to protect creditors from losses due to the firm’s insolvency.

GROWTH PROSPECTS

The firm’s financial requirements are directly related to how much it expects to grow and what assets it will need to acquire. It must evaluate its profitability and risk to develop insight into its ability to raise capital externally. In addition, the firm must determine the cost and speed with which it can obtain financing. Generally, a large, mature firm has adequate access to new capital, whereas a rapidly growing firm may not have sufficient funds available to support its acceptable projects. A growth firm is likely to have to depend heavily on internal financing through retained earnings, so it is likely to pay out only a very small percentage of its earnings as dividends. A more established firm is in a better position to pay out a large proportion of its earnings, particularly if it has ready sources of financing.

OWNER CONSIDERATIONS

The firm must establish a policy that has a favorable effect on the wealth of the majority of owners. One consideration is the tax status of a firm’s owners. If a firm has a large percentage of wealthy stockholders who have sizable incomes, it may decide to pay out a lower percentage of its earnings to allow the owners to delay the payment of taxes until they sell the stock. Because cash dividends are taxed at the same rate as capital gains (as a result of the 2003 and 2012 Tax Acts), this strategy benefits owners through the tax deferral rather than as a result of a lower tax rate. Lower-income shareholders, however, who need dividend income, will prefer a higher payout of earnings.

A second consideration is the owners’ investment opportunities. A firm should not retain funds for investment in projects yielding lower returns than the owners could obtain from external investments of equal risk. If it appears that the owners have better opportunities externally, the firm should pay out a higher percentage of its earnings. If the firm’s investment opportunities are at least as good as similar-risk external investments, a lower payout is justifiable.

A final consideration is the potential dilution of ownership. If a firm pays out a high percentage of earnings, new equity capital will have to be raised with common stock. The result of a new stock issue may be dilution of both control and earnings for the existing owners. By paying out a low percentage of its earnings, the firm can minimize the possibility of such dilution.

MARKET CONSIDERATIONS

One of the more recent theories proposed to explain firms’ payout decisions is called the catering theory. According to the catering theory, investors’ demands for dividends fluctuate over time. For example, during an economic boom accompanied by a rising stock market, investors may be more attracted to stocks that offer prospects of large capital gains. When the economy is in recession and the stock market is falling, investors may prefer the security of a dividend. The catering theory suggests that firms are more likely to initiate dividend payments or to increase existing payouts when investors exhibit a strong preference for dividends. Firms cater to the preferences of investors.

catering theory

A theory that says firms cater to the preferences of investors, initiating or increasing dividend payments during periods in which high-dividend stocks are particularly appealing to investors.

 REVIEW QUESTION

14–9What five factors do firms consider in establishing dividend policy? Briefly describe each of them.

14.5 Types of Dividend Policies

LG 4

The firm’s dividend policy must be formulated with two objectives in mind: providing for sufficient financing and maximizing the wealth of the firm’s owners. Three different dividend policies are described in the following sections. A particular firm’s cash dividend policy may incorporate elements of each.

CONSTANT-PAYOUT-RATIO DIVIDEND POLICY

One type of dividend policy involves use of a constant payout ratio. The dividend payout ratioindicates the percentage of each dollar earned that the firm distributes to the owners in the form of cash. It is calculated by dividing the firm’s cash dividend per share by its earnings per share. With aconstant-payout-ratio dividend policy, the firm establishes that a certain percentage of earnings is paid to owners in each dividend period.

dividend payout ratio

Indicates the percentage of each dollar earned that a firm distributes to the owners in the form of cash. It is calculated by dividing the firm’s cash dividend per share by its earnings per share.

constant-payout-ratio dividend policy

A dividend policy based on the payment of a certain percentage of earnings to owners in each dividend period.

The problem with this policy is that if the firm’s earnings drop or if a loss occurs in a given period, the dividends may be low or even nonexistent. Because dividends are often considered an indicator of the firm’s future condition and status, the firm’s stock price may be adversely affected.

Example 14.6

Peachtree Industries, a miner of potassium, has a policy of paying out 40% of earnings in cash dividends. In periods when a loss occurs, the firm’s policy is to pay no cash dividends. Data on Peachtree’s earnings, dividends, and average stock prices for the past 6 years follow.

Year Earnings/share Dividends/share Average price/share
2015 −$0.50 $0.00 $42.00
2014   3.00  1.20  52.00
2013   1.75  0.70  48.00
2012  −1.50  0.00  38.00
2011   2.00  0.80  46.00
2010   4.50  1.80  50.00

Dividends increased in 2013 and in 2014 but decreased in the other years. In years of decreasing dividends, the firm’s stock price dropped; when dividends increased, the price of the stock increased. Peachtree’s sporadic dividend payments appear to make its owners uncertain about the returns they can expect.

REGULAR DIVIDEND POLICY

The regular dividend policy is based on the payment of a fixed-dollar dividend in each period. Often, firms that use this policy increase the regular dividend once a sustainable increase in earnings has occurred. Under this policy, dividends are almost never decreased.

regular dividend policy

A dividend policy based on the payment of a fixed-dollar dividend in each period.

Example 14.7

The dividend policy of Woodward Laboratories, a producer of a popular artificial sweetener, is to pay annual dividends of $1.00 per share until per-share earnings have exceeded $4.00 for 3 consecutive years. At that point, the annual dividend is raised to $1.50 per share, and a new earnings plateau is established. The firm does not anticipate decreasing its dividend unless its liquidity is in jeopardy. Data for Woodward’s earnings, dividends, and average stock prices for the past 12 years follow.

Year Earnings/share Dividends/share Average price/share
2015 $4.50 $1.50 $47.50
2014  3.90  1.50  46.50
2013  4.60  1.50  45.00
2012  4.20  1.00  43.00
2011  5.00  1.00  42.00
2010  2.00  1.00  38.50
2009  6.00  1.00  38.00
2008  3.00  1.00  36.00
2007  0.75  1.00  33.00
2006  0.50  1.00  33.00
2005  2.70  1.00  33.50
2004  2.85  1.00  35.00

Whatever the level of earnings, Woodward Laboratories paid dividends of $1.00 per share through 2012. In 2013, the dividend increased to $1.50 per share because earnings in excess of $4.00 per share had been achieved for 3 years. In 2013, the firm also had to establish a new earnings plateau for further dividend increases. Woodward Laboratories’ average price per share exhibited a stable, increasing behavior in spite of a somewhat volatile pattern of earnings.

Often, a regular dividend policy is built around a target dividend-payout ratio. Under this policy, the firm attempts to pay out a certain percentage of earnings, but rather than let dividends fluctuate, it pays a stated dollar dividend and adjusts that dividend toward the target payout as proven earnings increases occur. For instance, Woodward Laboratories appears to have a target payout ratio of around 35 percent. The payout was about 35 percent ($1.00 ÷ $2.85) when the dividend policy was set in 2004, and when the dividend was raised to $1.50 in 2013, the payout ratio was about 33 percent ($1.50 ÷ $4.60).

target dividend-payout ratio

A dividend policy under which the firm attempts to pay out a certain percentage of earnings as a stated dollar dividend and adjusts that dividend toward a target payout as proven earnings increases occur.

LOW-REGULAR-AND-EXTRA DIVIDEND POLICY

Some firms establish a low-regular-and-extra dividend policy, paying a low regular dividend, supplemented by an additional (“extra”) dividend when earnings are higher than normal in a given period. By calling the additional dividend an extra dividend, the firm avoids setting expectations that the dividend increase will be permanent. This policy is especially common among companies that experience cyclical shifts in earnings.

low-regular-and-extra dividend policy

A dividend policy based on paying a low regular dividend, supplemented by an additional (“extra”) dividend when earnings are higher than normal in a given period.

extra dividend

An additional dividend optionally paid by the firm when earnings are higher than normal in a given period.

By establishing a low regular dividend that is paid each period, the firm gives investors the stable income necessary to build confidence in the firm, and the extra dividend permits them to share in the earnings from an especially good period. Firms using this policy must raise the level of the regular dividend once proven increases in earnings have been achieved. The extra dividend should not be a regular event; otherwise, it becomes meaningless. The use of a target dividend-payout ratio in establishing the regular dividend level is advisable.

 REVIEW QUESTION

14–10Describe a constant-payout-ratio dividend policy, a regular dividend policy, and a low-regular-and-extra dividend policy. What are the effects of these policies?

14.6 Other Forms of Dividends

LG 5

LG 6

Two common transactions that bear some resemblance to cash dividends are stock dividends and stock splits. Although the stock dividends and stock splits are closely related to each other, their economic effects are quite different than those of cash dividends or share repurchases.

STOCK DIVIDENDS

stock dividend is the payment, to existing owners, of a dividend in the form of stock. Often firms pay stock dividends as a replacement for or a supplement to cash dividends. In a stock dividend, investors simply receive additional shares in proportion to the shares they already own. No cash is distributed, and no real value is transferred from the firm to investors. Instead, because the number of outstanding shares increases, the stock price declines roughly in line with the amount of the stock dividend.

stock dividend

The payment, to existing owners, of a dividend in the form of stock.

Accounting Aspects

In an accounting sense, the payment of a stock dividend is a shifting of funds between stockholders’ equity accounts rather than an outflow of funds. When a firm declares a stock dividend, the procedures for announcement and distribution are the same as those described earlier for a cash dividend. The accounting entries associated with the payment of a stock dividend vary depending on its size. A small (ordinary) stock dividend is a stock dividend that represents less than 20 percent to 25 percent of the common stock outstanding when the dividend is declared. Small stock dividends are most common.

small (ordinary) stock dividend

A stock dividend representing less than 20 percent to 25 percent of the common stock outstanding when the dividend is declared.

Example 14.8

The current stockholders’ equity on the balance sheet of Garrison Corporation, a distributor of prefabricated cabinets, is as shown in the following accounts.

Preferred stock $ 300,000
Common stock (100,000 shares at $4 par)   400,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par   600,000
Retained earnings   700,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $2,000,000

Garrison, which has 100,000 shares of common stock outstanding, declares a 10% stock dividend when the market price of its stock is $15 per share. Because 10,000 new shares (10% of 100,000) are issued at the prevailing market price of $15 per share, $150,000 ($15 per share × 10,000 shares) is shifted from retained earnings to the common stock and paid-in capital accounts. A total of $40,000 ($4 par × 10,000 shares) is added to common stock, and the remaining $110,000 [($15 − $4) × 10,000 shares] is added to the paid-in capital in excess of par. The resulting account balances are as follows:

Preferred stock $ 300,000
Common stock (110,000 shares at $4 par)   440,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par   710,000
Retained earnings   550,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $2,000,000

The firm’s total stockholders’ equity has not changed; funds have merely been shifted among stockholders’ equity accounts.

Shareholder’s Viewpoint

The shareholder receiving a stock dividend typically receives nothing of value. After the dividend is paid, the per-share value of the shareholder’s stock decreases in proportion to the dividend in such a way that the market value of his or her total holdings in the firm remains unchanged. Therefore, stock dividends are usually nontaxable. The shareholder’s proportion of ownership in the firm also remains the same, and as long as the firm’s earnings remain unchanged, so does his or her share of total earnings. (However, if the firm’s earnings and cash dividends increase when the stock dividend is issued, an increase in share value is likely to result.)

Example 14.9

Ms. X owned 10,000 shares of Garrison Corporation’s stock. The company’s most recent earnings were $220,000, and earnings are not expected to change in the near future. Before the stock dividend, Ms. X owned 10% (10,000 shares ÷ 100,000 shares) of the firm’s stock, which was selling for $15 per share. Earnings per share were $2.20 ($220,000 ÷ 100,000 shares). Because Ms. X owned 10,000 shares, her earnings were $22,000 ($2.20 per share × 10,000 shares). After receiving the 10% stock dividend, Ms. X has 11,000 shares, which again is 10% of the ownership (11,000 shares ÷ 110,000 shares). The market price of the stock can be expected to drop to $13.64 per share [$15 × (1.00 ÷ 1.10)], which means that the market value of Ms. X’s holdings is $150,000 (11,000 shares × $13.64 per share). This is the same as the initial value of her holdings (10,000 shares × $15 per share). The future earnings per share drops to $2 ($220,000 ÷ 110,000 shares) because the same $220,000 in earnings must now be divided among 110,000 shares. Because Ms. X still owns 10% of the stock, her share of total earnings is still $22,000 ($2 per share × 11,000 shares).

In summary, if the firm’s earnings remain constant and total cash dividends do not increase, a stock dividend results in a lower per-share market value for the firm’s stock.

The Company’s Viewpoint

Stock dividends are more costly to issue than cash dividends, but certain advantages may outweigh these costs. Firms find the stock dividend to be a way to give owners something without having to use cash. Generally, when a firm needs to preserve cash to finance rapid growth, it uses a stock dividend. When the stockholders recognize that the firm is reinvesting the cash flow so as to maximize future earnings, the market value of the firm should at least remain unchanged. However, if the stock dividend is paid so as to retain cash to satisfy past-due bills, a decline in market value may result.

STOCK SPLITS

Although not a type of dividend, stock splits have an effect on a firm’s share price similar to that of stock dividends. A stock split is a method commonly used to lower the market price of a firm’s stock by increasing the number of shares belonging to each shareholder. In a 2-for-1 split, for example, two new shares are exchanged for each old share, with each new share being worth half the value of each old share. A stock split has no effect on the firm’s capital structure and is usually nontaxable.

stock split

A method commonly used to lower the market price of a firm’s stock by increasing the number of shares belonging to each shareholder.

Quite often, a firm believes that its stock is priced too high and that lowering the market price will enhance trading activity. Stock splits are often made prior to issuing additional stock to enhance that stock’s marketability and stimulate market activity. It is not unusual for a stock split to cause a slight increase in the market value of the stock, attributable to its informational content and because total dividends paid commonly increase slightly after a split.5

Example 14.10

My Finance Lab Solution Video

Delphi Company, a forest products concern, had 200,000 shares of $2-par-value common stock and no preferred stock outstanding. Because the stock is selling at a high market price, the firm has declared a 2-for-1 stock split. The total before- and after-split stockholders’ equity is shown in the following table.

Before split


After 2-for-1 split


Common stock   Common stock  
   (200,000 shares at $2 par) $ 400,000    (400,000 shares at $1 par) $ 400,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par  4,000,000 Paid-in-capital in excess of par  4,000,000
Retained earnings  2,000,000 Retained earnings  2,000,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $6,400,000   Total stockholders’ equity $6,400,000

The insignificant effect of the stock split on the firm’s books is obvious.

Stock can be split in any way desired. Sometimes a reverse stock split is made: The firm exchanges a certain number of outstanding shares for one new share. For example, in a 1-for-3 split, one new share is exchanged for three old shares. In a reverse stock split, the firm’s stock price rises due to the reduction in shares outstanding. Firms may conduct a reverse split if their stock price is getting so low that the exchange where the stock trades threatens to delist the stock. For example, the New York Stock Exchange requires that the average closing price of a listed security must be no less than $1 over any consecutive 30-day trading period. In June 2010, the video chain Blockbuster asked shareholders to approve a reverse stock split to prevent the NYSE from delisting Blockbuster’s stock. Shareholders didn’t approve the measure, and the NYSE delisted Blockbuster stock the following month.

reverse stock split

A method used to raise the market price of a firm’s stock by exchanging a certain number of outstanding shares for one new share.

5. Eugene F. Fama, Lawrence Fisher, Michael C. Jensen, and Richard Roll, “The Adjustment of Stock Prices to New Information,” International Economic Review 10 (February 1969), pp. 1–21, found that the stock price increases before the split announcement and that the increase in stock price is maintained if dividends per share are increased but is lost if dividends per share are not increased, following the split.

Personal Finance Example 14.11

Shakira Washington, a single investor in the 25% federal income tax bracket, owns 260 shares of Advanced Technology, Inc., common stock. She originally bought the stock 2 years ago at its initial public offering (IPO) price of $9 per share. The stock of this fast-growing technology company is currently trading for $60 per share, so the current value of her Advanced Technology stock is $15,600 (260 shares × $60 per share). Because the firm’s board believes that the stock would trade more actively in the $20 to $30 price range, it just announced a 3-for-1 stock split. Shakira wishes to determine the impact of the stock split on her holdings and taxes.

Because the stock will split 3 for 1, after the split Shakira will own 780 shares (3 × 260 shares). She should expect the market price of the stock to drop to $20 (1/3 × $60) immediately after the split; the value of her after-split holding will be $15,600 (780 shares × $20 per share). Because the $15,600 value of her after-split holdings in Advanced Technology stock exactly equals the before-split value of $15,600, Shakira has experienced neither a gain nor a loss on the stock as a result of the 3-for-1 split. Even if there were a gain or loss attributable to the split, Shakira would not have any tax liability unless she actually sold the stock and realized that (or any other) gain or loss.

 REVIEW QUESTIONS

14–11Why do firms issue stock dividends? Comment on the following statement: “I have a stock that promises to pay a 20 percent stock dividend every year, and therefore it guarantees that I will break even in 5 years.”

14–12Compare a stock split with a stock dividend.

Summary

FOCUS ON VALUE

Payout policy refers to the cash flows that a firm distributes to its common stockholders. A share of common stock gives its owner the right to receive all future dividends. The present value of all those future dividends expected over a firm’s assumed infinite life determines the firm’s stock value.

Corporate payouts not only represent cash flows to shareholders but also contain useful information about the firm’s current and future performance. Such information affects the shareholders’ perception of the firm’s risk. A firm can also pay stock dividends, initiate stock splits, or repurchase stock. All these dividend-related actions can affect the firm’s risk, return, and value as a result of their cash flows and informational content.

Although the theory of relevance of dividends is still evolving, the behavior of most firms and stockholders suggests that dividend policy affects share prices. Therefore, financial managers try to develop and implement dividend policy that is consistent with the firm’s goal of maximizing stock price.

REVIEW OF LEARNING GOALS

LG 1 Understand cash payout procedures, their tax treatment, and the role of dividend reinvestment plans. The board of directors makes the cash payout decision and, for dividends, establishes the record and payment dates. As a result of tax-law changes in 2003 and 2012, most taxpayers pay taxes on corporate dividends at a maximum rate of 5 percent to 15 percent, depending on the taxpayer’s tax bracket. Some firms offer dividend reinvestment plans that allow stockholders to acquire shares in lieu of cash dividends.

LG 2 Describe the residual theory of dividends and the key arguments with regard to dividend irrelevance and relevance. The residual theory suggests that dividends should be viewed as the earnings left after all acceptable investment opportunities have been undertaken. Miller and Modigliani argue in favor of dividend irrelevance, using a perfect world in which market imperfections such as transaction costs and taxes do not exist. Gordon and Lintner advance the theory of dividend relevance, basing their argument on the uncertainty-reducing effect of dividends, supported by their bird-in-the-hand argument. Empirical studies fail to provide clear support of dividend relevance. Even so, the actions of financial managers and stockholders tend to support the belief that dividend policy does affect stock value.

LG 3 Discuss the key factors involved in establishing a dividend policy. A firm’s dividend policy should provide for sufficient financing and maximize stockholders’ wealth. Dividend policy is affected by legal and contractual constraints, by growth prospects, and by owner and market considerations. Legal constraints prohibit corporations from paying out as cash dividends any portion of the firm’s “legal capital,” nor can firms with overdue liabilities and legally insolvent or bankrupt firms pay cash dividends. Contractual constraints result from restrictive provisions in the firm’s loan agreements. Growth prospects affect the relative importance of retaining earnings rather than paying them out in dividends. The tax status of owners, the owners’ investment opportunities, and the potential dilution of ownership are important owner considerations. Finally, market considerations are related to the stockholders’ preference for the continuous payment of fixed or increasing streams of dividends.

LG 4 Review and evaluate the three basic types of dividend policies. With a constant-payout-ratio dividend policy, the firm pays a fixed percentage of earnings to the owners each period; dividends move up and down with earnings, and no dividend is paid when a loss occurs. Under a regular dividend policy, the firm pays a fixed-dollar dividend each period; it increases the amount of dividends only after a proven increase in earnings. The low-regular-and-extra dividend policy is similar to the regular dividend policy except that it pays an extra dividend when the firm’s earnings are higher than normal.

LG 5 Evaluate stock dividends from accounting, shareholder, and company points of view. Firms may pay stock dividends as a replacement for or supplement to cash dividends. The payment of stock dividends involves a shifting of funds between capital accounts rather than an outflow of funds. Stock dividends do not change the market value of stockholders’ holdings, proportion of ownership, or share of total earnings. Therefore, stock dividends are usually nontaxable. However, stock dividends may satisfy owners and enable the firm to preserve its market value without having to use cash.

LG 6 Explain stock splits and the firm’s motivation for undertaking them. Stock splits are used to enhance trading activity of a firm’s shares by lowering or raising their market price. A stock split merely involves accounting adjustments; it has no effect on the firm’s cash or on its capital structure and is usually nontaxable.

To retire outstanding shares, firms can repurchase stock in lieu of paying a cash dividend. Reducing the number of outstanding shares increases earnings per share and the market price per share. Stock repurchases also defer the tax payments of stockholders.

Opener-in-Review

The chapter opener described Whirlpool’s decision to dramatically increase its dividend in early 2013 to $0.625 per share. When it made that announcement, Whirlpool indicated that the date of record for the dividend would be Friday, May 17, and that the payment date would be Saturday, June 15. When would you expect the stock to go ex dividend? The market price of Whirlpool stock just before the ex dividend date was $129. Immediately after the stock went ex dividend, the market price was $129.67. Is that price change surprising? Calculate the return that an investor might have earned if she had purchased the stock before the ex dividend date, sold the stock immediately afterward, and received the dividend a few weeks later.

Self-Test Problem

(Solutions in Appendix)

LG 6

ST14–1Stock repurchase The Off-Shore Steel Company has earnings available for common stockholders of $2 million and has 500,000 shares of common stock outstanding at $60 per share. The firm is currently contemplating the payment of $2 per share in cash dividends.

  • a.Calculate the firm’s current earnings per share (EPS) and price/earnings (P/E) ratio.
  • b.If the firm can repurchase stock at $62 per share, how many shares can be purchased in lieu of making the proposed cash dividend payment?
  • c.How much will the EPS be after the proposed repurchase? Why?
  • d.If the stock sells at the old P/E ratio, what will the market price be after repurchase?
  • e.Compare and contrast the earnings per share before and after the proposed repurchase.
  • f.Compare and contrast the stockholders’ position under the dividend and repurchase alternatives.

Warm-Up Exercises

All problems are available in MyFinanceLab.

E14–1Stephanie’s Cafes, Inc., has declared a dividend of $1.30 per share for shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 2. The firm has 200,000 shares outstanding and will pay the dividend on May 24. How much cash will be needed to pay the dividend? When will the stock begin selling ex dividend?

LG 1

E14–2Chancellor Industries has retained earnings available of $1.2 million. The firm plans to make two investments that require financing of $950,000 and $1.75 million, respectively. Chancellor uses a target capital structure with 60% debt and 40% equity. Apply the residual theory to determine what dividends, if any, can be paid out, and calculate the resultingdividend payout ratio.

LG 2

E14–3Ashkenazi Companies has the following stockholders’ equity account:

LG 3

Common stock (350,000 shares at $3 par) $1,050,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par  2,500,000
Retained earnings   750,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $4,300,000

Assuming that state laws define legal capital solely as the par value of common stock, how much of a per-share dividend can Ashkenazi pay? If legal capital were more broadly defined to include all paid-in capital, how much of a per-share dividend could Ashkenazi pay?

E14–4The board of Kopi Industries is considering a new dividend policy that would set dividends at 60% of earnings. The recent past has witnessed earnings per share (EPS) and dividends paid per share as shown in the following table.

LG 4

Year EPS Dividend/share
2012 $1.75 $0.95
2013  1.95  1.20
2014  2.05  1.25
2015  2.25  1.30

Based on Kopi’s historical dividend payout ratio, discuss whether a constant payout ratio of 60% would benefit shareholders.

E14–5The current stockholders’ equity account for Hilo Farms is as follows:

LG 5

Common stock (50,000 shares at $3 par) $150,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par  250,000
Retained earnings  450,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $850,000

Hilo has announced plans to issue an additional 5,000 shares of common stock as part of its stock dividend plan. The current market price of Hilo’s common stock is $20 per share. Show how the proposed stock dividend would affect the stockholder’s equity account.

Problems

All problems are available in MyFinanceLab.

LG 1

P14–1Dividend payment procedures At the quarterly dividend meeting, Wood Shoes declared a cash dividend of $1.10 per share for holders of record on Monday, July 10. The firm has 300,000 shares of common stock outstanding and has set a payment date of July 31. Prior to the dividend declaration, the firm’s key accounts were as follows:

Cash $500,000 Dividends payable $      0
    Retained earnings 2,500,000
  • a.Show the entries after the meeting adjourned.
  • b.When is the ex dividend date?
  • c.What values would the key accounts have after the July 31 payment date?
  • d.What effect, if any, will the dividend have on the firm’s total assets?
  • e.Ignoring general market fluctuations, what effect, if any, will the dividend have on the firm’s stock price on the ex dividend date?

Personal Finance Problem

LG 1

P14–2Dividend payment Kathy Snow wishes to purchase shares of Countdown Computing, Inc. The company’s board of directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.80 to be paid to holders of record on Wednesday, May 12.

  • a.What is the last day that Kathy can purchase the stock (trade date) and still receive the dividend?
  • b.What day does this stock begin trading ex dividend?
  • c.What change, if any, would you expect in the price per share when the stock begins trading on the ex dividend day?
  • d.If Kathy held the stock for less than one quarter and then sold it for $39 per share, would she achieve a higher investment return by (1) buying the stock prior to the ex dividend date at $35 per share and collecting the $0.80 dividend or (2) buying it on the ex dividend date at $34.20 per share but not receiving the dividend?
P14–3Residual dividend policy As president of Young’s of California, a large clothing chain, you have just received a letter from a major stockholder. The stockholder asks about the company’s dividend policy. In fact, the stockholder has asked you to estimate the amount of the dividend that you are likely to pay next year. You have not yet collected all the information about the expected dividend payment, but you do know the following:

LG 2

  • (1)The company follows a residual dividend policy.
  • (2)The total capital budget for next year is likely to be one of three amounts, depending on the results of capital budgeting studies that are currently under way. The capital expenditure amounts are $2 million, $3 million, and $4 million.
  • (3)The forecasted level of potential retained earnings next year is $2 million.
  • (4)The target or optimal capital structure is a debt ratio of 40%.

You have decided to respond by sending the stockholder the best information available to you.

  • a.Describe a residual dividend policy.
  • b.Compute the amount of the dividend (or the amount of new common stock needed) and the dividend payout ratio for each of the three capital expenditure amounts.
  • c.Compare, contrast, and discuss the amount of dividends (calculated in part b) associated with each of the three capital expenditure amounts.
P14–4Dividend constraints The Howe Company’s stockholders’ equity account follows:

LG 3

Common stock (400,000 shares at $4 par) $1,600,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par  1,000,000
Retained earnings  1,900,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $4,500,000

The earnings available for common stockholders from this period’s operations are $100,000, which have been included as part of the $1.9 million retained earnings.

  • a.What is the maximum dividend per share that the firm can pay? (Assume that legal capital includes all paid-in capital.)
  • b.If the firm has $160,000 in cash, what is the largest per-share dividend it can pay without borrowing?
  • c.Indicate the accounts and changes, if any, that will result if the firm pays the dividends indicated in parts a and b.
  • d.Indicate the effects of an $80,000 cash dividend on stockholders’ equity.
P14–5Dividend constraints A firm has $800,000 in paid-in capital, retained earnings of $40,000 (including the current year’s earnings), and 25,000 shares of common stock outstanding. In the current year, it has $29,000 of earnings available for the common stockholders.

LG 3

  • a.What is the most the firm can pay in cash dividends to each common stockholder? (Assume that legal capital includes all paid-in capital.)
  • b.What effect would a cash dividend of $0.80 per share have on the firm’s balance sheet entries?
  • c.If the firm cannot raise any new funds from external sources, what do you consider the key constraint with respect to the magnitude of the firm’s dividend payments? Why?
P14–6Low-regular-and-extra dividend policy Bennett Farm Equipment Sales, Inc., is in a highly cyclic business. Although the firm has a target payout ratio of 25%, its board realizes that strict adherence to that ratio would result in a fluctuating dividend and create uncertainty for the firm’s stockholders. Therefore, the firm has declared a regular dividend of $0.50 per share per year with extra cash dividends to be paid when earnings justify them. Earnings per share for the last several years are shown in the following table.

LG 4

Year EPS
2015 $3.00
2014  2.40
2013  2.20
2012 $2.80
2011  2.15
2010  1.97
  • a.Calculate the payout ratio for each year on the basis of the regular $0.50 dividend and the cited EPS.
  • b.Calculate the difference between the regular $0.50 dividend and a 25% payout for each year.
  • c.Bennett has established a policy of paying an extra dividend of $0.25 only when the difference between the regular dividend and a 25% payout amounts to $1.00 or more. Show the regular and extra dividends in those years when an extra dividend would be paid. What would be done with the “extra” earnings that are not paid out?
  • d.The firm expects that future earnings per share will continue to cycle but will remain above $2.20 per share in most years. What factors should be considered in making a revision to the amount paid as a regular dividend? If the firm revises the regular dividend, what new amount should it pay?
P14–7Alternative dividend policies Over the last 10 years, a firm has had the earnings per share shown in the following table.

LG 4

Year Earnings per share
2015 $4.00
2014  3.80
2013  3.20
2012  2.80
2011  3.20
2010 $2.40
2009  1.20
2008  1.80
2007 −0.50
2006  0.25
  • a.If the firm’s dividend policy were based on a constant payout ratio of 40% for all years with positive earnings and 0% otherwise, what would be the annual dividend for each year?
  • b.If the firm had a dividend payout of $1.00 per share, increasing by $0.10 per share whenever the dividend payout fell below 50% for two consecutive years, what annual dividend would the firm pay each year?
  • c.If the firm’s policy were to pay $0.50 per share each period except when earnings per share exceed $3.00, when an extra dividend equal to 80% of earnings beyond $3.00 would be paid, what annual dividend would the firm pay each year?
  • d.Discuss the pros and cons of each dividend policy described in parts a through c.
P14–8Alternative dividend policies Given the earnings per share over the period 2008–2015 shown in the following table, determine the annual dividend per share under each of the policies set forth in parts a through d.

LG 4

Year Earnings per share
2015 $1.40
2014  1.56
2013  1.20
2012 −0.85
2011  1.05
2010  0.60
2009  1.00
2008  0.44
  • a.Pay out 50% of earnings in all years with positive earnings.
  • b.Pay $0.50 per share and increase to $0.60 per share whenever earnings per share rise above $0.90 per share for two consecutive years.
  • c.Pay $0.50 per share except when earnings exceed $1.00 per share, in which case pay an extra dividend of 60% of earnings above $1.00 per share.
  • d.Combine the policies described in parts b and c. When the dividend is raised (in partb), raise the excess dividend base (in part c) from $1.00 to $1.10 per share.
  • e.Compare and contrast each of the dividend policies described in parts a through d.
P14–9Stock dividend: Firm Columbia Paper has the following stockholders’ equity account. The firm’s common stock has a current market price of $30 per share.

LG 5

Preferred stock $100,000
Common stock (10,000 shares at $2 par)   20,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par  280,000
Retained earnings  100,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $500,000
  • a.Show the effects on Columbia of a 5% stock dividend.
  • b.Show the effects of (1) a 10% and (2) a 20% stock dividend.
  • c.In light of your answers to parts a and b, discuss the effects of stock dividends on stockholders’ equity.
P14–10Cash versus stock dividend Milwaukee Tool has the following stockholders’ equity account. The firm’s common stock currently sells for $4 per share.

LG 5

Preferred stock $ 100,000
Common stock (400,000 shares at $1 par)   400,000
Paid-in capital in excess of par   200,000
Retained earnings   320,000
  Total stockholders’ equity $1,020,000
  • a.Show the effects on the firm of a cash dividend of $0.01, $0.05, $0.10, and $0.20 per share.
  • b.Show the effects on the firm of a 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20% stock dividend.
  • c.Compare the effects in parts a and b. What are the significant differences between the two methods of paying dividends?

Personal Finance Problem

P14–11Stock dividend: Investor Sarah Warren currently holds 400 shares of Nutri-Foods. The firm has 40,000 shares outstanding. The firm most recently had earnings available for common stockholders of $80,000, and its stock has been selling for $22 per share. The firm intends to retain its earnings and pay a 10% stock dividend.

LG 5

  • a.How much does the firm currently earn per share?
  • b.What proportion of the firm does Sarah currently own?
  • c.What proportion of the firm will Sarah own after the stock dividend? Explain your answer.
  • d.At what market price would you expect the stock to sell after the stock dividend?
  • e.Discuss what effect, if any, the payment of stock dividends will have on Sarah’s share of the ownership and earnings of Nutri-Foods.

Personal Finance Problem

P14–12Stock dividend: Investor Security Data Company has outstanding 50,000 shares of common stock currently selling at $40 per share. The firm most recently had earnings available for common stockholders of $120,000, but it has decided to retain these funds and is considering either a 5% or a 10% stock dividend in lieu of a cash dividend.

LG 5