Jerry Rice and Grain Stores has $4,430,000 in yearly sales. The firm earns 2 percent on each dollar of sales and turns over its assets 4.5 times per year. It has $167,000 in current liabilities and $342,000 in long-term liabilities. a. What is its return on stockholders’ equity? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Input your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)
b. If the asset base remains the same as computed in part a, but total asset turnover goes up to 4.75, what will be the new return on stockholders’ equity? Assume that the profit margin stays the same as do current and long-term liabilities. (Do not round intermediate calculations. Input your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places.)

a. 5.37%

b. 5.08%

Explanation:

Firstly, we need to calculate net profit before return on stockholder's equity

Sales. $4,430,000

Net income % on sales 2%

Net income. $88,600

We will also calculate total stockholder's equity

Sales. $4,430,000

Asset turnover ratio. 4.5

Total assets. $984,444

Less: current liab. ($167,000)

Less: long term liab. ($342,000)

Total stockholder's. $475,444

equity

a. Return on stockholder's equity

= Total stockholder's equity ÷ Net income

= $475,444 ÷ $88,600

= 5.37%

b. New return on stockholder's equity

Total assets $984,444

× Asset turnover ratio. 4.75

New total sales. $4,676,109

Net income % sales. 2%

Net income $93,522

Recall that total stockholder's equity = $475,444

Net income = $93,522

Therefore, New return on stockholder's

equity = Total stockholder's equity / Net income

= $475,444 ÷ $93,522

= 5.08%

a.   is the correct choice.

good luck. : )