Sharon Smith, the financial manager for Barnett Corporation, wishes to select one of three prospective investments: X, Y, and Z. Assume that the measure of risk Sharon cares about is an asset's standard deviation. The expected returns and standard deviations of the investments are as follows:

Investment Expected Return Standard Deviation
X 15% 6%
Y 13% 7%
Z 17% 5%

(a) If Sharon were risk-neutral, which investment would she select? Explain why.
(b) If she were risk-averse, which investment would she select? Why?
(c) If she were risk-seeking, which investments would she select? Why?
(d) Suppose a fourth investment, W, is available. It offers an expected return of 18%, and it has a standard deviation of 9%. If Sharon is risk-averse, can you say which investment she will choose? Why or why not? Are there any investments that you are certain she will not choose?

Benton company (bc), a calendar year entity, has one owner, who is in the 37% federal income tax bracket (any net capital gains or dividends would be taxed at a 20% rate). bc's gross income is $395,000, and its ordinary trade or business deductions are $245,000. ignore the standard deduction (or itemized deductions) and the deduction for qualified business income. if required, round computations to the nearest dollar. a. bc is operated as a proprietorship, and the owner withdraws $100,000 for personal use. bc's taxable income for the current year is $ , and the tax liability associated with the income from the sole proprietorship is $ . b. bc is operated as a c corporation, pays out $100,000 as salary, and pays no dividends to its shareholder. bc's taxable income for the current year is $ , and bc's tax liability is $ . the shareholder's tax liability is $ . c. bc is operated as a c corporation and pays out no salary or dividends to its shareholder. bc's taxable income for the current year is $ , and bc's tax liability is $ . d. bc is operated as a c corporation, pays out $100,000 as salary, and pays out the remainder of its earnings as dividends. bc's taxable income for the current year is $ , and bc's tax liability is $ .

Ursus, inc., is considering a project that would have a five-year life and would require a $1,650,000 investment in equipment. at the end of five years, the project would terminate and the equipment would have no salvage value. the project would provide net operating income each year as follows (ignore income taxes.):

Omnidata uses the annualized income method to determine its quarterly federal income tax payments. it had $100,000, $50,000, and $90,000 of taxable income for the first, second, and third quarters, respectively ($240,000 in total through the first three quarters). what is omnidata's annual estimated taxable income for purposes of calculating the third quarter estimated payment?