Beatrice Markets is expecting a period of intense growth and has decided to retain more of its earnings to help finance that growth. As a result, it is going to reduce its annual dividend by 30 percent a year for the next 2 years. After that, it will maintain a constant dividend of $2.50 a share. Last year, the company paid $3.60 as the annual dividend per share. What is the market value of this stock if the required rate of return is 14.5 percent?

$16.69

Explanation:

Using the Dividend growth model, the value is:

= [Dividend 1/ (1 + required return)] + [Dividend 2/ (1 + required return)²] + [Terminal value / (1 + required return)²]

Terminal value = Dividend after 2 years / (required return - growth)

= 2.50/ (14.5% + 0%)

= $17.24

Dividend 1 = 3.60 * ( 1 -30%)                                Dividend 2 = 2.52 * ( 1 -30%)

= $2.52                                                                                     = $1.76

Market value = (2.52 / 1.145) + (1.76 / 1.145²) + (17.24/1.145²)

= $16.69

answer; interviews;