After completing its capital spending for the year, Carlson Manufacturing has $2,800 extra cash. Carlson’s managers must choose between investing the cash in Treasury bonds that yield 5 percent or paying the cash out to investors who would invest in the bonds themselves.

a. If the corporate tax rate is 38 percent, what personal tax rate would make the investors equally willing to receive the dividend or to let Carlson invest the money? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer as a percent rounded to the nearest whole number, e.g., 32.)

Personal tax rate %

b. Is the answer to (a) reasonable?

Yes

No

c. Suppose the only investment choice is a preferred stock that yields 14 percent. The corporate dividend exclusion of 70 percent applies. What personal tax rate will make the stockholders indifferent to the outcome of Carlson’s dividend decision? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Enter your answer as a percent rounded to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)

Personal tax rate %

d. Is this a compelling argument for a low dividend-payout ratio?

Yes

No