Fill in the table using the following information:

Assets required for operation: $10,000

Firm A uses only equity financing

Firm B uses 30% debt with a 6% interest rate and 70% equity

Firm C uses 50% debt with a 10% interest rate and 50% equity

Firm D uses 50% preferred stock financing with a dividend rate of 10% and 50% equity financing

Earnings before interest and taxes: $1,000

Table:

A B C D

Debt $ $ $ $

Preferred stock

Common stock

Earnings before interest and taxes

Interest Expense

Earnings before taxes

Taxes (40% of earnings)

Preferred stock dividends

Net earnings

Return on common stock

Also answer the following questions:

What happens to the return on the stockholders' investment as the amount of debt increases? Why is the rate of interest greater in case C? Why is the return lower when the firm uses preferred stock instead of debt? Why does the use of preferred stock involve less risk for the firm than a comparable use of debt financing?