Show How Leverage Increases Financial Risk by Calculating the EPS

question 88

Essay

Show how leverage increases financial risk by calculating the EPS and return on shares for a firm with $1 million in 10% debt. The firm also has 50,000 shares outstanding that sell for $40 each. Three states of the economy are possible: a slump under which the firm would have operating income of $150,000, a normal state under which the firm will earn $420,000, and a boom under which the firm will earn $600,000. The firm pays no taxes.

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Definitions:

Statement of Stockholders' Equity

A financial document showing changes in the value of a company’s equity over a specific period, including shares issued, dividends paid, and earnings retained.

Retained Earnings

The residual net income available to a business after distributing dividends to its shareholders.

Net Income

Net income is the total profit of a company after all expenses, taxes, and costs have been subtracted from total revenues.

Dividends

Payments made by a corporation to its shareholders, usually as a distribution of profits.