Decker's is an all-equity financed chain of retail furniture stores. Furniture Fashions produces furniture and is the primary supplier to Decker's. Decker's has a beta of 1.62 as compared to Furniture Fashions' beta of 1.43. The risk-free rate of return is 3.1 percent and the market risk premium is 7.6 percent. What discount rate should Decker's use if it considers a project that involves the manufacturing of furniture

13.968%

Explanation:

Discount is defined as a deduction from the selling price of a product, and it is used as a way to attract more customers by using price advantage compared to competitors.

The following formula can be used to calculate discount

Discount rate = Rate of return + Competitor's beta (market risk premium)

Discount rate = 0.031 + 1.43(0.076)

Discount rate= 0.13968= 13.968%

Discount rate = 15.4%

Explanation:

The cost of equity of Decker can  be determined using the capital asset pricing model.

The capital asset pricing model is a risk-based model. Here, the return on equity is dependent on the level of reaction of the the equity to changes in the return on a market portfolio. These changes are captured as systematic risk. The magnitude by which a stock is affected by systematic risk is measured by beta.

Under CAPM, Ke= Rf + β(Rm-Rf)

Rf-risk-free rate (treasury bill rate), β= Beta, Rm= Return on market.

Ke? Rf- 3.1, β- 1.62, Rm-Rf = 7.6

Ke =3.1 + (1.62× 7.6)= 15.4%

Discount rate would be the same as the cost of equity.

Discount rate = 15.4%