Exam 11: Calculating the Cost of Capital

A firm has 5,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding, each with a market price of $8.00 per share. It has 25,000 bonds outstanding, each selling for $1,100 with a $1,000 face value. The bonds mature in 12 years, have a coupon rate of 9 percent, and pay coupons semiannually. The firm's equity has a beta of 1.4, and the expected market return is 15 percent. The tax rate is 35 percent and the WACC is 14 percent. Calculate the risk-free rate.

Suppose that TW, Inc. has a capital structure of 25 percent equity, 15 percent preferred stock, and 60 percent debt. If the before-tax component costs of equity, preferred stock and debt are 13.5 percent, 9.5 percent and 4 percent, respectively, what is TW's WACC if the firm faces an average tax rate of 30 percent?