Question: This is a more difficult but informative problem. James Brodrick & Sons, Incorporated, is growing rapidly and, if at all possible, would like to finance

This is a more difficult but informative problem. James Brodrick & Sons, Incorporated, is growing rapidly and, if at all possible, would like to finance its growth without selling new equity. Selected information from the companys five-year financial forecast follows.

Year 1 2 3 4 5
Earnings after tax ($ millions) 100 128 168 227 300
Capital investment ($ millions) 170 300 300 370 540
Target book value debt-to-equity ratio (%) 140 140 140 140 140
Dividend payout ratio (%) ? ? ? ? ?
Marketable securities ($ millions) 200 200 200 200 200
(Year 0 marketable securities = $200 million)

a. According to this forecast, what dividends will the company be able to distribute annually without raising new equity and while maintaining a balance of $200 million in marketable securities? What will the annual dividend payout ratio be? (Hint: Remember sources of cash must equal uses at all times.)

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