Problem 14-2 EBIT, Taxes, and Leverage

Castle, Inc., has no debt outstanding and a total market value of $240,000. Earnings before interest and taxes, EBIT, are projected to be $28,000 if economic conditions are normal. If there is strong expansion in the economy, then EBIT will be 10 percent higher. If there is a recession, then EBIT will be 25 percent lower. The firm is considering a debt issue of $48,000 with an interest rate of 4 percent. The proceeds will be used to repurchase shares of stock. There are currently 20,000 shares outstanding. The firm has a tax rate 35 percent. Assume the stock price remains constant. a-1. Calculate earnings per share (EPS) under each of the three economic scenarios before any debt is issued. (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answers to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)

		EPS
Recession	$
Normal	$
Expansion	$

a-2. Calculate the percentage changes in EPS when the economy expands or enters a recession. (A negative answer should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answers as a percent rounded to the nearest whole number, e.g., 32.)

Percentage changes in EPS
Recession	%
Expansion	%

b-1. Calculate earnings per share (EPS) under each of the three economic scenarios assuming the company goes through with recapitalization. (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answers to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)

		EPS
Recession	$
Normal	$
Expansion	$

b-2. Given the recapitalization, calculate the percentage changes in EPS when the economy expands or enters a recession. (A negative answer should be indicated by a minus sign. Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answers as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)

Percentage changes in EPS
Recession	%
Expansion	%