A firm is 67.00% equity. It has a cost of equity of 18.00%, a pre-tax cost of debt of 8.00%, and a marginal tax rate of 21.00%. What is the firm's weighted average cost of capital?

1 answer

To calculate the firm's weighted average cost of capital (WACC), we can use the following formula:

\[ \text{WACC} = \left( \frac{E}{V} \times r_e \right) + \left( \frac{D}{V} \times r_d \times (1 - T) \right) \]

Where:

  • \(E\) = market value of equity
  • \(D\) = market value of debt
  • \(V\) = \(E + D\) = total market value of the firm's financing (equity + debt)
  • \(r_e\) = cost of equity
  • \(r_d\) = pre-tax cost of debt
  • \(T\) = marginal tax rate

From the information provided, we have:

  • \(E/V = 67.00% = 0.67\)
  • Therefore, \(D/V = 1 - E/V = 1 - 0.67 = 0.33\)
  • \(r_e = 18.00% = 0.18\)
  • \(r_d = 8.00% = 0.08\)
  • \(T = 21.00% = 0.21\)

Now, substituting these values into the WACC formula:

  1. Calculate the equity contribution:

\[ \frac{E}{V} \times r_e = 0.67 \times 0.18 = 0.1206 \]

  1. Calculate the debt contribution (after tax):

\[ \frac{D}{V} \times r_d \times (1 - T) = 0.33 \times 0.08 \times (1 - 0.21) \] \[ = 0.33 \times 0.08 \times 0.79 = 0.020832 \]

  1. Add the two components to get WACC:

\[ \text{WACC} = 0.1206 + 0.020832 = 0.141432 \]

Converting back to percentage:

\[ \text{WACC} = 14.14% \]

Thus, the firm's weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is approximately 14.14%.