Free CFA-Level-II Exam Braindumps
CFA Level II Chartered Financial Analyst Questions 110–114 (page: 44)

Updated On: 10-Feb-2026

George Armor, CFA, is a new stock analyst for Pedad Investments. One tool that Pedad uses to compare stock valuations is the dividend discount model (DOM). In particular, the firm evaluates stocks in terms of "justified" multiples of sales and book value. These multiples are based on algebraic manipulation of the DDM. Over time, these multiples seem to provide a good check on the market valuation of a stock relative to the company's fundamentals. Any stock which is currently priced below its value based on a justified multiple of sales or book value is considered attractive for purchase by Pedad portfolio managers. Exhibit 1 contains financial information from the year just ended for three stable companies in the meat-packing industry: Able Corp, Baker, Inc., and Charles Company, from which Armor will derive his valuation estimates.


One of Pedad's other equity analysts, Marie Swift, CFA, recently held a meeting with Armor to discuss a relatively new model the firm is implementing to determine the P/E ratios of companies that Pedad researches. Swift explains that the model utilizes a cross-sectional regression using the previous year-end data of a group of comparable companies' P/E ratios against their dividend payout ratios (r), sustainable growth rates (g), and returns on equity (ROE). The resulting regression equation is used to determine a predicted P/E ratio for the subject company using the subject company's most recent year-end data. Swift has developed the following model, which has an R-squared of 81%, for the meat packing industry (16 companies):

Predicted P/E = 2.74 + 8.21(r) + 14.21(g) + 2.81(ROE)
(STD error) (2.11) (6.52) (9.24) (2.10)

After Swift presents the model to Armor, she points out that models of this nature are subject to limitations. In particular, multicollinearity, which appears to be present in the meat packing industry model, can create great difficulty in interpreting the effects of the individual coefficients of the model. Swift continues by stating that in spite of this limitation, models of this nature generally have known and significant predictive power across different time periods although not across different stocks.
Based on Exhibit 1, the justified price-to-sales ratio of Baker, Inc. is closest to:

  1. 1.5.
  2. 1.7.
  3. 1.9.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The justified price-to-sales (P/S) ratio is calculated as:
P/S = [profit margin X payout ratio X (1 + g)) / (r - g)
Baker: P/S = [(4.80 / 52.80) x (1.60 / 4.80) x (1 + 0.10)] / (0.12 - 0.10) = 1.67

(Study Session 12, LOS 42.j)



George Armor, CFA, is a new stock analyst for Pedad Investments. One tool that Pedad uses to compare stock valuations is the dividend discount model (DOM). In particular, the firm evaluates stocks in terms of "justified" multiples of sales and book value. These multiples are based on algebraic manipulation of the DDM. Over time, these multiples seem to provide a good check on the market valuation of a stock relative to the company's fundamentals. Any stock which is currently priced below its value based on a justified multiple of sales or book value is considered attractive for purchase by Pedad portfolio managers. Exhibit 1 contains financial information from the year just ended for three stable companies in the meat-packing industry: Able Corp, Baker, Inc., and Charles Company, from which Armor will derive his valuation estimates.



One of Pedad's other equity analysts, Marie Swift, CFA, recently held a meeting with Armor to discuss a relatively new model the firm is implementing to determine the P/E ratios of companies that Pedad researches. Swift explains that the model utilizes a cross-sectional regression using the previous year-end data of a group of comparable companies' P/E ratios against their dividend payout ratios (r), sustainable growth rates (g), and returns on equity (ROE). The resulting regression equation is used to determine a predicted P/E ratio for the subject company using the subject company's most recent year-end data. Swift has developed the following model, which has an R-squared of 81%, for the meat packing industry (16 companies):

Predicted P/E = 2.74 + 8.21(r) + 14.21(g) + 2.81(ROE)
(STD error) (2.11) (6.52) (9.24) (2.10)

After Swift presents the model to Armor, she points out that models of this nature are subject to limitations. In particular, multicollinearity, which appears to be present in the meat packing industry model, can create great difficulty in interpreting the effects of the individual coefficients of the model. Swift continues by stating that in spite of this limitation, models of this nature generally have known and significant predictive power across different time periods although not across different stocks.

If valuation is based on the justified price-to-sales ratio. Armor should conclude that Able Corp is:

  1. overvalued; the stock trades at more than double its value based on a justified price-to-sales ratio.
  2. overvalued relative to Baker, but undervalued relative to Charles.
  3. undervalued; the stock trades at less than one half of its value based on a justified price-to-sales ratio.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Able Corp should sell for [(2.50 /115) x (1.00 / 2.50) x (1 + 0.15)] / (0.20 - 0.15) -0.20 x sales, or $23/share. The current market price of $60 is 161% overvalued. Baker trades for $70 versus a value of 1.67 x 52.8 = $88, a discount of 20%. Charles trades for $35.50 versus a value of 1.43 x 25-75 = 37, a negligible discount of 4%. (Study Session 12, LOS 42.k)



George Armor, CFA, is a new stock analyst for Pedad Investments. One tool that Pedad uses to compare stock valuations is the dividend discount model (DOM). In particular, the firm evaluates stocks in terms of "justified" multiples of sales and book value. These multiples are based on algebraic manipulation of the DDM. Over time, these multiples seem to provide a good check on the market valuation of a stock relative to the company's fundamentals. Any stock which is currently priced below its value based on a justified multiple of sales or book value is considered attractive for purchase by Pedad portfolio managers. Exhibit 1 contains financial information from the year just ended for three stable companies in the meat-packing industry: Able Corp, Baker, Inc., and Charles Company, from which Armor will derive his valuation estimates.



One of Pedad's other equity analysts, Marie Swift, CFA, recently held a meeting with Armor to discuss a relatively new model the firm is implementing to determine the P/E ratios of companies that Pedad researches. Swift explains that the model utilizes a cross-sectional regression using the previous year-end data of a group of comparable companies' P/E ratios against their dividend payout ratios (r), sustainable growth rates (g), and returns on equity (ROE). The resulting regression equation is used to determine a predicted P/E ratio for the subject company using the subject company's most recent year-end data. Swift has developed the following model, which has an R-squared of 81%, for the meat packing industry (16 companies):

Predicted P/E = 2.74 + 8.21(r) + 14.21(g) + 2.81(ROE)
(STD error) (2.11) (6.52) (9.24) (2.10)

After Swift presents the model to Armor, she points out that models of this nature are subject to limitations. In particular, multicollinearity, which appears to be present in the meat packing industry model, can create great difficulty in interpreting the effects of the individual coefficients of the model. Swift continues by stating that in spite of this limitation, models of this nature generally have known and significant predictive power across different time periods although not across different stocks.

Armor has been asked to identify the relative valuation merits of the three stocks. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Able Corp is the best investment because it has the highest ROE.
  2. Charles Company is the best investment because the stock is priced below book value.
  3. Able Corp's earnings should grow the fastest due to its high ROE and retention ratio.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

A high ROE does not make a company a good investment, nor does a high book value. However, Able Corp does have the highest potential growth rate. Because the justified values for Charles Company are near the market price, there does not appear to be any problem with the valuation inputs (e.g., required return). The similarity between the justified P/B value and market price of Charles indicates that it is fairly priced and not an especially attractive investment. (Study Session 12, LOS 42.k)



George Armor, CFA, is a new stock analyst for Pedad Investments. One tool that Pedad uses to compare stock valuations is the dividend discount model (DOM). In particular, the firm evaluates stocks in terms of "justified" multiples of sales and book value. These multiples are based on algebraic manipulation of the DDM. Over time, these multiples seem to provide a good check on the market valuation of a stock relative to the company's fundamentals. Any stock which is currently priced below its value based on a justified multiple of sales or book value is considered attractive for purchase by Pedad portfolio managers. Exhibit 1 contains financial information from the year just ended for three stable companies in the meat-packing industry: Able Corp, Baker, Inc., and Charles Company, from which Armor will derive his valuation estimates.


One of Pedad's other equity analysts, Marie Swift, CFA, recently held a meeting with Armor to discuss a relatively new model the firm is implementing to determine the P/E ratios of companies that Pedad researches. Swift explains that the model utilizes a cross-sectional regression using the previous year-end data of a group of comparable companies' P/E ratios against their dividend payout ratios (r), sustainable growth rates (g), and returns on equity (ROE). The resulting regression equation is used to determine a predicted P/E ratio for the subject company using the subject company's most recent year-end data. Swift has developed the following model, which has an R-squared of 81%, for the meat packing industry (16 companies):

Predicted P/E = 2.74 + 8.21(r) + 14.21(g) + 2.81(ROE)
(STD error) (2.11) (6.52) (9.24) (2.10)

After Swift presents the model to Armor, she points out that models of this nature are subject to limitations. In particular, multicollinearity, which appears to be present in the meat packing industry model, can create great difficulty in interpreting the effects of the individual coefficients of the model. Swift continues by stating that in spite of this limitation, models of this nature generally have known and significant predictive power across different time periods although not across different stocks.

Based on Exhibit 1, indicate the company that has the lowest predicted P/E utilizing the meat packing industry model presented by Swift.

  1. Able Corp.
  2. Baker, Inc.
  3. Charles Company.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Based on the model presented, the predicted P/E ratios can be calculated as:
Able: 2.74 + 8.21(1.00 / 2.50) + 14.21(0.15) + 2.81(0.25) = 8.85
Baker: 274 + 8.21(1.60/4.80) + 14.21(0.10) + 2.81(0.15) = 7.32
Charles: 2.74 + 8.21(2.50/4.00) + 14.21(0.03) + 2.81(0.08) = 8.52
(Study Session 12,LOS42.g)



George Armor, CFA, is a new stock analyst for Pedad Investments. One tool that Pedad uses to compare stock valuations is the dividend discount model (DOM). In particular, the firm evaluates stocks in terms of "justified" multiples of sales and book value. These multiples are based on algebraic manipulation of the DDM. Over time, these multiples seem to provide a good check on the market valuation of a stock relative to the company's fundamentals. Any stock which is currently priced below its value based on a justified multiple of sales or book value is considered attractive for purchase by Pedad portfolio managers. Exhibit 1 contains financial information from the year just ended for three stable companies in the meat-packing industry: Able Corp, Baker, Inc., and Charles Company, from which Armor will derive his valuation estimates.



One of Pedad's other equity analysts, Marie Swift, CFA, recently held a meeting with Armor to discuss a relatively new model the firm is implementing to determine the P/E ratios of companies that Pedad researches. Swift explains that the model utilizes a cross-sectional regression using the previous year-end data of a group of comparable companies' P/E ratios against their dividend payout ratios (r), sustainable growth rates (g), and returns on equity (ROE). The resulting regression equation is used to determine a predicted P/E ratio for the subject company using the subject company's most recent year-end data. Swift has developed the following model, which has an R-squared of 81%, for the meat packing industry (16 companies):

Predicted P/E = 2.74 + 8.21(r) + 14.21(g) + 2.81(ROE)
(STD error) (2.11) (6.52) (9.24) (2.10)

After Swift presents the model to Armor, she points out that models of this nature are subject to limitations. In particular, multicollinearity, which appears to be present in the meat packing industry model, can create great difficulty in interpreting the effects of the individual coefficients of the model. Swift continues by stating that in spite of this limitation, models of this nature generally have known and significant predictive power across different time periods although not across different stocks.

Evaluate Swift's comments regarding multicollinearity and predictive power. Which of the following comments is correct?

  1. Only the comment about multicollinearity is correct.
  2. Only the comment about predictive power is correct.
  3. Both comments are correct.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Swift has correctly stated that if multicollinearity is present in a model, the interpretation of the individual regression coefficients becomes problematic. The existence of multicollinearity is generally signaled by a high R-squared value and low f-statistics on the regression coefficients. The r-stat for the coefficients for r, g, and ROE can be calculated as (8.21 / 6.52) = 1.26, (14.21 / 9.24) = 1.54, and (2.81 / 2.10) = 1.34, respectively. Note that all of these f- stats are well below the approximate critical value of 2, indicating they are statistically insignificant. With the high R-squared of 81% and insignificant f-stats, it appears that multicollinearity is indeed present in this model. Swift's comment regarding predictive power is incorrect. Cross-sectional regressions have unknown predictive power outside the specific sample and time period used to generate the regression. (Study Session 12, LOS 42.k)



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