Dewpoint Systems is a renowned firm, with a total asset turnover of 1.3. A conservative firm, it has a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.2. It manages to keep 15% of its sales as net profit and pays out 63% of the earnings as dividends. It has a beta of 0.79, at a time when the market risk premium is 6.3%. Assuming a risk-free investment rate of 6.4%, Dewpoint's price-to-earnings multiple equals ________.
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A. B. C. D.B
The Dividend Discount Model implies that the firm's price-to-earnings ratio is given by Po/E1 = (D1/E1)/(k-g) = (dividend payout ratio)/(k-g), using standard notation.
The dividend growth rate is given by g = ROE*(1-dividend payout ratio).
ROE = net income/common equity = (net income/sales)*(sales/assets)*(assets/equity) = profit margin * asset turnover*(1 + debt / equity) = 0.15 * 1.3*(1+0.2) =
23.4%.
Therefore, g = 23.4%*(1-63%) = 8.66%.
The CAPM expected rate of return on the stock is equal to the risk-free rate plus beta times the market premium. So the expected return on the stock is 6.4% +
0.79 * 6.3% = 11.38%. Therefore, the price-to-earnings ratio equals 0.63/(11.38 - 8.66)% = 23.16.