Problem

Lenow's Drug Stores and Hall's Pharmaceuticals are competitors in the discount drug chain store business. The separate capital structures for Lenow and Hall are presented here. Lenow Hall Debt @ 9% $ 70,000 Debt @ 9% $ 140,000 Common stock, $10 par 140,000 Common stock, $10 par 70,000 Total $ 210,000 Total $ 210,000 Common shares 14,000 Common shares 7,000.

a. Complete the following table given earnings before interest and taxes of $12,000, $18,900, and $52,000. Assume the tax rate is 20 percent. (Negative amounts should be indicated by parentheses or a minus sign. Round your answers to 2 decimal places.)

b-1. What is the EBIT/TA rate when the firm's have equal EPS?
b-2. What is the cost of debt?
b-3. State the relationship between earnings per share and the level of EBIT.

c. If the cost of debt went up to 11 percent and all other factors remained equal, what would be the break-even level for EBIT?