Reference no: EM132385145
TD Ameritrade; Cost of Capital - Complete this assignment as a group outside of class. Provide a typed written report of your analysis (not a list of answers to the questions). This should include a statement of the problem along with any issues you believe are relevant for your analysis. Use Exhibits, Tables or Figures to illustrate any calculations. Label and format them correctly. See the resources provided in the team case folder. Participation and team attendance are required for the case presentation and discussion on Wednesday, October 9th
and are worth 10% of your grade.
1. Briefly describe the situation presented in the case. In doing this, be sure to address the following:
a. What does Ameritrade do?
b. Who is Joe Ricketts and what is his role in the company and regarding this WACC analysis?
c. Summarize recent developments with Ameritrade. Why do they want to calculate their cost of capital, and why are they hiring a consultant to do the calculation?
2. Discuss the following issues related to WACC (cost of capital):
a. What is the WACC and why is it important for Joe Ricketts and Ameritrade?
b. Is a firm's WACC set by managers or investors? Explain.
c. Is it possible to determine the exact cost of capital? Why or why not?
Assume your team is hired as the consultant to calculate the cost of capital for Ameritrade:
3. Calculate Ameritrade's cost of equity using the SML (CAPM). In doing so, it is necessary for you to identify the appropriate risk-free interest rate, the appropriate beta, and the appropriate value for the market risk premium. Use the information provided in the case, discuss the alternatives for each and make your decisions. Use your textbook as a reference and use what you have learned in class. Justify your choices. Show your calculations in Tables or Exhibits.
a. Ameritrade had a recent IPO (just before the case was written) and does not have sufficient stock returns to estimate their beta.
i. Use the Pure Play method to estimate Ameritrade's beta. Market value capital structure ratios (Debt/Value) are given in the case for competitors. Note that this is the Debt Ratio, NOT the Debt/Equity ratio.
ii. Comparable firm betas (in 1997): Charles Schwab = 2.00, Quick & Reilly = 2.23, Waterhouse = 1.85
iii. Comparable firm tax rates (in 1997): 25% for all three comparable firms
iv. Ameritrade currently does not have any LT Debt. However, they expect to raise funds using LT Debt for their planned technology investment. Use this value (provided in the case) for the market value of debt for both this calculation and WACC.
b. A Pure Play example is posted on BbLearn with the case questions.
4. Ameritrade is not currently paying a dividend so the DDM calculation for cost of equity is not useful. Explain why Ameritrade may not be paying a dividend currently (in 1997).
5. Find Ameritrade's cost of debt using the information provided in the case. Use the information given in the case to find the company tax rate and calculate after-tax cost of debt.
Use the average tax rate from the last three years.
6. Calculate Ameritrade's WACC using your results from parts 3. and 5. (above) and case information. Describe and explain what you have done. Show all calculations in a Table or Exhibit.
7. Be prepared to explain your results (in class) to Joe Ricketts when you present him your estimate for Ameritrade's cost of capital (WACC).
a. Prepare a 1-2 minute summary to present your WACC findings to Joe Ricketts, and advise him whether or not Ameritrade should make the investment. Justify your WACC and advice regarding the investment. Include your presentation summary here
that you will present in class.
b. All members should be prepared to discuss the team's WACC analysis including justification for assumptions made and inputs used in your calculations.
Attachment:- TD Ameritrade- Cost of Capital.rar
Attachment:- GroupCase-Ameritrade.rar
Attachment:- Pure Play Method for Estimating Project Betas.rar