Answer:
Pelican Paper, Inc., and Timberland Forest, Inc.
Financial leverage and profitability ratios:
a) Debt Ratio = Total liabilities divided by Total assets x 100
Pelican = $1,000,000/$10,900,000 x 100
= 9.2%
Timberland = $5,500,000/$10,900,000 x 100
= 50%
Times Interest Earned Ratio = EBIT/Interest Expense
Pelican = $5,750,000/$100,000
= 57.5 times
Timberland = $5,750,000/$550,000
= 10.4 times
A discussion of their financial risk and ability to cover the costs in relation to each other:
C. Timberland's earnings will be more volatile. This additional risk is supported by the significantly lower times interest earned ratio of Timberland. Pelican can face a very large reduction in net income and still be able to cover its interest expense.
D. Timberland has a much higher degree of financial leverage than does Pelican. As a result, Timberland's earnings will be morevolatile, causing the common stock owners to face greater risk.
Explanation:
a) Data
Financial Statement Values:
Item Pelican Paper, Inc. Timberland Forest, Inc.
Total assets $10,900,000 $10,900,000
Total equity (all common) 9,900.000 5,400,000
Total debt 1,000,000 5,500,000
Annual interest 100,000 550,000
Total sales 23,000,000 23,000,000
EBIT 5,750,000 5,750,000
Earnings available for
common stockholders 3,394,800 3,174,000
b) Creditors provide half of the finances and effectively own 50% of Timberland. This contrasts with the debt ratio of Pelican, where creditors can lay claim to only 9.2% of the assets of the firm. Furthermore, Pelican can settle its debts with current earnings 57.5 times, compared to Timberland's interest coverage of 10.4 times.
