The aikman company's optimal capital structure calls for 40% debt and 60% common equity. the interest rate on its debt is a constant 12%; its cost of common equity is 18%; and its federal-plus-state tax rate is 40%. aikman has the following investment opportunities: aikman expects to have net income of $7 million. if aikman bases its dividends on the residual policy, what will be its payout ratio?

Steele bicycle manufacturing company currently produces the handlebars used in manufacturing its bicycles, which are high-quality racing bikes with limited sales. steele produces and sells only 10,000 bikes each year. due to the low volume of activity, steele is unable to obtain the economies of scale that larger producers achieve. for example, steele could buy the handlebars for $31 each: they cost $34 each to make. the following is a detailed breakdown of current production costs: after seeing these figures, steele's president remarked that it would be foolish for the company to continue to produce the handlebars at $34 each when it can buy them for $31 each. calculate the total relevant cost. do you agree with the president's conclusion?

Which of the following statements about brand names is true? brand names give the seller an incentive to provide consistently high-quality products and services in order to protect the reputation of the brand. brand names are always economically wasteful since they dupe consumers into buying more expensive goods and services that are no different from generic versions. it is always rational to prefer brand names over generic substitutes. read the following example and determine whether it illustrates a common critique or defense of advertising. musashi sees a commercial for a brand x clothing company that depicts the wearers of the clothes out having a good time with friends. although he doesn't particularly need new clothes, the commercial prompts him to buy a brand x t-shirt.

Aborrower takes out a 30-year adjustable rate mortgage loan for $200,000 with monthly payments. the first two years of the loan have a "teaser" rate of 4%, after that, the rate can reset with a 5% annual payment cap. on the reset date, the composite rate is 6%. what would the year 3 monthly payment be?