7. Determining the optimal capital structure Aa Aa Understanding the optimal capital structure Review this situation: Universal Exports Inc. is trying to identify its optimal capital structure. Universal Exports Inc. has gathered the following financial information to help with the analysis. Debt Ratio Equity Ratio EPS DPS Stock Price 70% 30% 1.25 0.55 36.25 40% 60% 1.40 0.60 37.75 50% 50% 1.60 0.65 39.50 60% 40% 1.85 0.75 38.75 70% 30% 1.75 0.70 38.25 Which capital structure shown in the preceding table is Universal Exports Inc.'s optimal capital structure? Debt ratio 60%; equity ratio 40% Debt ratio 50%; equity ratio 50% Debt ratio 70%; equity ratio 30% Debt ratio 30%; equity ratio 70% Debt ratio 40%; equity ratio 60% Consider this case: Globex Corp. has a capital structure that consists of 35% debt and 65% equity. The firm's current beta is 1.10, but management wants to understand Globex Corp.'s market risk without the effect of leverage. If Globex Corp. has a 35% tax rate, what is its unlevered beta? 0.85 0.77 0.81 0.97 Now consider the case of another company: U.S. Robotics Inc. has a current capital structure of 30% debt and 70% equity. Its current before-tax cost of debt is 8%, and its tax rate is 35%. It currently has a levered beta of 1.10. The risk-free rate is 3.5%, and the risk premium on the market is 7%. U.S. Robotics Inc. is considering changing its capital structure to 60% debt and 40% equity. Increasing the firm's level of debt will cause its before-tax cost of debt to increase to 10%. Use the Hamada equation to unlever and relever the beta for the new level of debt. What will the firm's weighted average cost of capital (WACC) be if it makes this change in its capital structure? the WACC and the firm's stock price. The optimal capital structure is the one that Higher debt levels the firm's risk. Consequently, higher levels of debt cause the firm's cost of equity to Axis Chemical Co. has found that its expected EPS is maximized at a debt ratio of 45%. Does this mean that Axis Chemical Co.'s optimal capital structure calls for 45% debt? No Yes