Firms HL and LL are identical except for their financial leverage ratios and the interest rates they pay on debt. Each has $15 million in invested capital, has $2.25 million of EBIT, and is in the 40% federal-plus-state tax bracket. Firm HL, however, has a debt-to-capital ratio of 55% and pays 11% interest on its debt, whereas LL has a 20% debt-to-capital ratio and pays only 8% interest on its debt. Neither firm uses preferred stock in its capital structure.
a: Calculate the return on invested capital (ROIC) for each
firm. Round your answers to two decimal places.
ROIC for firm LL is % ______
ROIC for firm HL is % ______
b: Calculate the rate of return on equity (ROE) for each firm. Round your answers to two decimal places.
ROE for firm LL is %
ROE for firm HL is %
c: Observing that HL has a higher ROE, LL's treasurer is thinking of raising the debt-to-capital ratio from 20% to 60% even though that would increase LL's interest rate on all debt to 15%. Calculate the new ROE for LL. Round your answer to two decimal places.
%_______
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