Firms U and L Each Have the Same Amount of Assets

question 2

Multiple Choice

Firms U and L each have the same amount of assets, and both have a basic earning power ratio of 20%. Firm U is unleveraged, i.e., it is 100% equity financed, while Firm L is financed with 50% debt and 50% equity. Firm L's debt has a before-tax cost of 8%. Both firms have positive net income. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

• A) The two companies have the same times interest earned (TIE) ratio.
• B) Firm L has a lower ROA than Firm U.
• C) Firm L has a lower ROE than Firm U.
• D) Firm L has the higher times interest earned (TIE) ratio.
• E) Firm L has a higher EBIT than Firm U.

---

Definitions:

Character Assassination

The deliberate and sustained effort to damage the reputation or credibility of an individual or organization.

Dean Acheson

A prominent American statesman and lawyer who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Harry S. Truman, playing a central role in defining American foreign policy during the Cold War.

Cold War

The Cold War, spanning from the conclusion of World War II until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, involved a prolonged state of political and military tension between the United States along with its allies and the Soviet Union, marked by aggressive rhetoric, espionage, and acts other than direct military conflict.

Oscar Handlin

A prominent American historian and author known for his studies on immigration and the history of ethnicity in American life.