Answer:
The required rate of return on the stock is 12.55%
Explanation:
According to the given data we have the following:
The Company is distributing 30% of its earnings as dividends
Therefore, company is retaining = 100-30 = 70% of its earnings
Growth = Retention ratio * ROE = 0.7*0.14 = 9.8%
Earning = 19.6 million
hence, Paid as dividends = 19.6*0.3 = $5.88 million
The Number of shares outstanding = 2.8 million
hence, Dividend per share = Total dividends / number of shares outstanding = 5.88/2.8 = $2.1
Current stock price = $84
Therefore, to calculate the required rate of return on the stock we would have to use the following formula:
Price of stock = Current dividend*(1+growth)/(r-growth), where r is required rate of return
84 = 2.1*(1.098)/(r-0.098)
40 = 1.098/(r-0.098)
r - 0.098 = 0.02745
r = 0.02745+0.098 = 0.12545
The required rate of return on the stock is 12.55%
