A Firm Has Set Its Target Capital Structure at 40

question 41

Essay

A firm has set its target capital structure at 40% debt. Further, it intends to continue with a 30% dividend payout. Finally, it hopes to maintain a constant growth rate of 7%. If the profit margin and asset turnover are currently 8% and .9, respectively, do the constraints sound realistic? If not, what might you suggest?

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Definitions:

EIN

An Employer Identification Number, issued by the IRS, used for identifying a business entity and for tax filing purposes.

Form SS-4

The form filled out by an employer to get an EIN. The form is sent to the IRS, which assigns the number to the business.

Payroll Tax Expense

Tax that a business must pay based on the wages and salaries of its employees, including social security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes.

FICA

The Federal Insurance Contributions Act, which funds Social Security and Medicare, requiring employers and employees to pay a percentage of earnings.