In all textbooks, the valuation of stocks and bonds is simply stated as the present value of all the future cash flows expected from the security. The concept is logical, straightforward, and deceptively simple. The valuation of bonds is usually presented first, since the relatively certain cash flows are broken into an annuity and a payment of the par value at some specific date in the future. Preferred stock valuation follows bond valuation and the value of preferred stock is shown to be the present value of annuity. The cash flows from perpetual the constant-size dividend is fairly certain, and most preferred stock does not have a maturity date. Finally, common stock is presented but neither the future cash flows (from dividends) nor the final value is known with any degree of certainty. Generally students seem to understand the bond and preferred stock valuation techniques, but they tend to be very skeptical of the common stock valuation model. Using the discounted cash flow models on an actual company can help dispel some of the doubts, but more importantly it can indicate how the models explain price behavior.

HOME PRODUCTS, INC.Home Products, Inc. (HPD is a leading manufacturer of prescription and ethical drugs specialty foods and candies: and proprietary drugs. Important product names include Advil, Anacin, Dimetapp, Norplant, and Robitussin. Total revenues in the last fiscal year were in excess of $9 billion.

Long Term Debt

The company has a capital structure thatis made up of 34 percent long-term debt, 3 percent preferred stock, and 63 percent common stock. One of the two largest domestic long-term debt issues is a 9% percent coupon bond that is due in years and if called will be redeemed at a premium of 10 The other large publicly held bond is a 9 percent coupon bond that is due in nine years. This Both of these bonds are rated A by Moody's.

Preferred Stock

The preferred stock is a $2.75 cumulative preferred with a stated value of $30.50, but it is currently selling for $30. More than 5.5 million shares were issued in February 1979 in connection with the merger of FDS Company into a subsidiary of HPI. The preferred stock has no voting rights unless the company is in arrears on six or more quarterly dividends, and then each shareholder is entitled to one-quarter vote per share. In the event of liquidation each share is entitled to $30.50 plus accrued dividends.

Common Stock

Returns from common stock come from the cash dividend payment and/or changes in the price of the stock. Investors receiving dividends can expect them to grow over time, but some stocks do not pay dividends, especially during their early growth years. As firms mature, they typically start paying dividends and then management is very reluctant to reduce the dividend. For the firms that do not pay dividends, the normalassumption is that theearnings arebeing retained by the firm to promote growth; thus, the stock price should grow at a higher rate than firms that have high payout ratios.

Two major factors that affect the priceof in the of return, caused primarily by changes in the risk, and change in the growth rate of earnings, which in tum create changes in the growth rate of dividend

The common stock of Home Products currently has over 95 million shares of valuestockoutstanding. Ashareof common stock presently sells for $40% and pays a quarterly dividend of $0.385. A consensus estimate (Zack's and IBES) indicates that earnings and dividends are expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.7 percent for the next five years.

The common shares have no preemptive rights. Stockholders of HPI have the opportunity to buy additional shares of common stock through a plan of automatic dividend reinvestment and optional cash purchase. This plan allows stockholders to have their dividends reinvested in shares of common stock, and they can purchase additional shares at the market price (with no commission) each month. Shareholders who participate in this plan are limited to a total of $1,000per month that they can use to purchase additional shares.

QUESTIONS:

1. Look at the 9% percent coupon bond. What is its current yield, its yield- to first call, and its yield-to-maturity? 2. Do you think this bond will be called? Why or why not?

3. What would be the value of the 9 percent coupon bond if the time to maturity was 10 years rather than 26 years? Can you explain why your answer is correct?

4. What is the required rate of return for the preferred stock? How does this rate compare to the YTM for the HPI 9% percent bond? Is this difference what you would have expected from a risk/return standpoint? Why or why not?

5. In the event of liquidation, HPI preferred stockholders are entitled to $3050 plus accrued dividends. Does this mean that preferred stockholders will receive that amount?

6. What is the dividend yield and the expected capital gains yield for HPI common stock?

7. Given that HPI is selling for $40k, what is its required rate of return? (Use the constant growth valuation model.)

8. Assume that the risk-free rate is 7 percent and that the expected return of the market is 12 percent. According to the security market line valuation model, what is the required rate of return for HPI common stockif its beta is 1.10?

9. Using the constant growth valuation model, find the present value of HPI common stock. Would you buy or sell? 

10. The constant growth model is used in textbooks as a conceptual model to explain changes in stock prices. Is the model also of value for the actual valuation of stocks?