Problem:

You buy a share of The Ludwig Corporation stock for $20.60. You expect it to pay dividends of $1.05; $1.15, and $1.2595 in Years 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and you expect to sell it at a price of $30.76 at the end of 3 years.

Required:

Question 1: Calculate the growth rate in dividends.

Question 2: Calculate the expected dividend yield.

Question 3: Assuming that the calculated growth rate is expected to continue; you can add the dividend yield to the expected growth rate to obtain the expected total rate of return. What is this stock's expected total rate of return?

Please explain in detail and provide all workings.