Question: In Problem, assume the term structure of interest rates becomes inverted, with short-term rates going to 12 percent and long-term rates 4 percentage points lower than short-term rates. If all other factors in the problem remain unchanged, what will earnings after taxes be?

Problem: Winfrey Diet Food Corp. has $4,500,000 in assets.

Short-term rates are 8 percent. Long-term rates are 13 percent. Earnings before interest and taxes are $960,000. The tax rate is 40 percent. If long-term financing is perfectly matched (synchronized) with long-term asset needs, and the same is true of short-term financing, what will earnings after taxes be?