Cream and Crimson Foods has a target capital structure of calling for 42.00 percent debt, 3.00 percent preferred stock, and 55.00 percent common equity (retained earnings plus common stock). Its before-tax cost of debt is 12.00 percent. The tax rate is 40.00%. Its cost of preferred stock is 10.76%. Its cost of common equity is 12.22%.

Find the WACC for Cream and Crimson Foods?

1 answer

To calculate the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) for Cream and Crimson Foods, we use the following formula:

\[ \text{WACC} = \left( w_d \times r_d \times (1 - T) \right) + \left( w_{ps} \times r_{ps} \right) + \left( w_e \times r_e \right) \]

Where:

  • \( w_d \) = weight of debt
  • \( r_d \) = cost of debt
  • \( T \) = tax rate
  • \( w_{ps} \) = weight of preferred stock
  • \( r_{ps} \) = cost of preferred stock
  • \( w_e \) = weight of equity
  • \( r_e \) = cost of equity

Given Data:

  • Weight of Debt (\( w_d \)): 42.00% or 0.42
  • Cost of Debt (\( r_d \)): 12.00% or 0.12
  • Tax Rate (\( T \)): 40.00% or 0.40
  • Weight of Preferred Stock (\( w_{ps} \)): 3.00% or 0.03
  • Cost of Preferred Stock (\( r_{ps} \)): 10.76% or 0.1076
  • Weight of Common Equity (\( w_e \)): 55.00% or 0.55
  • Cost of Common Equity (\( r_e \)): 12.22% or 0.1222

Step-by-Step Calculation:

  1. Calculate the after-tax cost of debt: \[ r_d(1 - T) = 0.12 \times (1 - 0.40) = 0.12 \times 0.60 = 0.072 \]

  2. Calculate each component of WACC:

    • Cost of Debt component: \[ w_d \times r_d \times (1 - T) = 0.42 \times 0.072 = 0.03024 \]

    • Cost of Preferred Stock component: \[ w_{ps} \times r_{ps} = 0.03 \times 0.1076 = 0.003228 \]

    • Cost of Common Equity component: \[ w_e \times r_e = 0.55 \times 0.1222 = 0.06721 \]

  3. Add all components together to find WACC: \[ \text{WACC} = 0.03024 + 0.003228 + 0.06721 = 0.100678 \]

Final Result:

\[ \text{WACC} \approx 0.10068 \text{ or } 10.07% \]

Therefore, the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) for Cream and Crimson Foods is approximately 10.07%.