Free CFA-Level-II Exam Braindumps
CFA Level II Chartered Financial Analyst Questions 115–119 (page: 45)

Updated On: 10-Feb-2026

Marie Williams, CFA, and David Pacious, CFA, are portfolio managers for Stillwell Managers. Williams and Pacious are attending a conference held by Henri Financial Education on the fundamentals of valuation for common stock, preferred stock, and other assets.
During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.

During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
• Firm A is a noncyclical consumer products firm with a 50 year history. The firm pays a $1.80 dividend per share and attempts to increase dividends by 4% a year. Earnings and dividends have steadily increased for the past
20 years.
• Firm B is a technology firm. It has never paid a dividend and does not expect to in the near future. Furthermore, due to large investments in new factories and equipment, the firm is not expected to generate positive free cash flow in the foreseeable future.
• Firm C is an industrial firm with currently very little competition and a dividend growth rate of 9% a year. However, the profits in its product market have started to attract competitors and it is expected that Firm C's profits will slowly decline such that the dividend growth steadily falls each year until it reaches a growth rate of 4% a year.
• Firm D is a pharmaceutical firm that is currently enjoying high profits and paying dividends. However, the firm's strongest selling drug is coming off patent in three years. With no other drugs in the pipeline, the firm's dividend growth rate is expected to drop abruptly in three years and settle at a lower growth rate.

The next day, Pacious decides to put what he learned into practice. The stock he is valuing, Maple Goods and Services, currently pays a dividend of $3.00. The dividend growth rate is 25% and is expected to steadily decline over the next 8 years to a stable rate of 7% thereafter. Given its risk, Pacious estimates that the required return is 5%.
Williams analyzes the value of Mataka Plastics stock. Its dividend is expected to grow at a rate of 18% for the next four years, after which it will grow at 4%. This year's dividend is $5.00 and Williams estimates the required return at 15%.

From the seminar, Pacious learned that a firm's health can be gauged by the present value of its future investment opportunities (PVGO). Tackling a calculation, he uses the following example for Wood Athletic Supplies:

Stock price $90.00
Current earnings $5.50
Expected earnings $6.00
Required return on stock 15%

Pacious and Williams discuss the characteristics of firms in various stages of growth, where firms experience an initial growth phase, a transitional phase, and a maturity phase in their life. They both agree that the Gordon Growth Model is not always appropriate. Pacious makes the following statements.

Statement 1: For firms in the initial growth phase, earnings are rapidly increasing, there are little or no dividends, and there is heavy reinvestment. The return on equity is, however, higher than the required return on the stock, the free cash flows to equity are positive, and the profit margin is high.

Statement 2: When estimating the terminal value in the three-stage dividend growth model, it can be estimated using the Gordon Growth Model or a price-multiple approach.
Which of the following best describes the appropriate valuation models for the Henri presentation scenarios?

  1. Firm A should be valued using a free-cash flow model. Firm B should be valued using a free-cash flow model.
  2. Firm A should be valued using a dividend discount model. Finn B should be valued using a residual income model.
  3. Firm A can be valued using either a free cash flow model or a dividend discount model. Firm B should be valued using a residual income model.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Firm A should be valued using the one-period dividend discount model. The firm has a history of dividend payments, the dividend policy is clear and related to the earnings of the firm, and (as stated in the presentation) the perspective is that of a minority shareholder. A free cash flow model is more appropriate when examining the perspective of a controlling shareholder.
Firm B should be valued using a residual income model. The residual income approach is most appropriate for firms that do not have dividend histories, have transparent financial reporting, and have negative free cash flow for the foreseeable future (usually due to capital demands). (Study Session 11, LOS 40.a,b)



Marie Williams, CFA, and David Pacious, CFA, are portfolio managers for Stillwell Managers. Williams and Pacious are attending a conference held by Henri Financial Education on the fundamentals of valuation for common stock, preferred stock, and other assets.

During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
• Firm A is a noncyclical consumer products firm with a 50 year history. The firm pays a $1.80
dividend per share and attempts to increase dividends by 4% a year. Earnings and dividends have steadily increased for the past
20 years.
• Firm B is a technology firm. It has never paid a dividend and does not expect to in the near future. Furthermore, due to large investments in new factories and equipment, the firm is not expected to generate positive free cash flow in the foreseeable future.
• Firm C is an industrial firm with currently very little competition and a dividend growth rate of 9% a year. However, the profits in its product market have started to attract competitors and it is expected that Firm C's profits will slowly decline such that the dividend growth steadily falls each year until it reaches a growth rate of 4% a year.
• Firm D is a pharmaceutical firm that is currently enjoying high profits and paying dividends. However, the firm's strongest selling drug is coming off patent in three years. With no other drugs in the pipeline, the firm's dividend growth rate is expected to drop abruptly in three years and settle at a lower growth rate.

The next day, Pacious decides to put what he learned into practice. The stock he is valuing, Maple Goods and Services, currently pays a dividend of $3.00. The dividend growth rate is 25% and is expected to steadily decline over the next 8 years to a stable rate of 7% thereafter. Given its risk, Pacious estimates that the required return is 5%.

Williams analyzes the value of Mataka Plastics stock. Its dividend is expected to grow at a rate of 18% for the next four years, after which it will grow at 4%. This year's dividend is $5.00 and Williams estimates the required return at 15%.

From the seminar, Pacious learned that a firm's health can be gauged by the present value of its future investment opportunities (PVGO). Tackling a calculation, he uses the following example for Wood Athletic Supplies:

Stock price $90.00
Current earnings $5.50
Expected earnings $6.00
Required return on stock 15%

Pacious and Williams discuss the characteristics of firms in various stages of growth, where firms experience an initial growth phase, a transitional phase, and a maturity phase in their life. They both agree that the Gordon Growth Model is not always appropriate. Pacious makes the following statements.

Statement 1: For firms in the initial growth phase, earnings are rapidly increasing, there are little or no dividends, and there is heavy reinvestment. The return on equity is, however, higher than the required return on the stock, the free cash flows to equity are positive, and the profit margin is high.
Statement 2: When estimating the terminal value in the three-stage dividend growth model, it can be estimated using the Gordon Growth Model or a price-multiple approach.

Which of the following best describes the appropriate valuation techniques for the Henri presentation scenarios?

  1. Firm C should be valued using a two-stage dividend discount model. Firm D should be valued using an H dividend discount model.
  2. Firm C should be valued using an H dividend discount model. Firm D should be valued using a two-stage dividend discount model.
  3. Both Firms C and D should be valued using the H dividend discount model.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Firm C should be valued using an H dividend discount model. A firm that has little competition now, but has competition that is expected to increase, is a candidate for the H-model. Growth can be expected to decline as competitors enter the market. Growth then stabilizes as the industry matures.
Firm D should be valued using a two-stage dividend discount model. A firm that is expected to have a high rate of growth until patents expire, for example, should be modeled by the two-stage model, with one rate of growth before the patent expires and another rate thereafter. (Study Session 11, LOS 40.j)



Marie Williams, CFA, and David Pacious, CFA, are portfolio managers for Stillwell Managers. Williams and Pacious are attending a conference held by Henri Financial Education on the fundamentals of valuation for common stock, preferred stock, and other assets.
During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.

During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
• Firm A is a noncyclical consumer products firm with a 50 year history. The firm pays a $1.80 dividend per share and attempts to increase dividends by 4% a year. Earnings and dividends have steadily increased for the past
20 years.
• Firm B is a technology firm. It has never paid a dividend and does not expect to in the near future. Furthermore, due to large investments in new factories and equipment, the firm is not expected to generate positive free cash flow in the foreseeable future.
• Firm C is an industrial firm with currently very little competition and a dividend growth rate of 9% a year. However, the profits in its product market have started to attract competitors and it is expected that Firm C's profits will slowly decline such that the dividend growth steadily falls each year until it reaches a growth rate of 4% a year.
• Firm D is a pharmaceutical firm that is currently enjoying high profits and paying dividends. However, the firm's strongest selling drug is coming off patent in three years. With no other drugs in the pipeline, the firm's dividend growth rate is expected to drop abruptly in three years and settle at a lower growth rate.

The next day, Pacious decides to put what he learned into practice. The stock he is valuing, Maple Goods and Services, currently pays a dividend of $3.00. The dividend growth rate is 25% and is expected to steadily decline over the next 8 years to a stable rate of 7% thereafter. Given its risk, Pacious estimates that the required return is 5%.

Williams analyzes the value of Mataka Plastics stock. Its dividend is expected to grow at a rate of 18% for the next four years, after which it will grow at 4%. This year's dividend is $5.00 and Williams estimates the required return at 15%.

From the seminar, Pacious learned that a firm's health can be gauged by the present value of its future investment opportunities (PVGO). Tackling a calculation, he uses the following example for Wood Athletic Supplies:

Stock price $90.00
Current earnings $5.50
Expected earnings $6.00
Required return on stock 15%
Pacious and Williams discuss the characteristics of firms in various stages of growth, where firms experience an initial growth phase, a transitional phase, and a maturity phase in their life. They both agree that the Gordon Growth Model is not always appropriate. Pacious makes the following statements.
Statement 1: For firms in the initial growth phase, earnings are rapidly increasing, there are little or no dividends, and there is heavy reinvestment. The return on equity is, however, higher than the required return on the stock, the free cash flows to equity are positive, and the profit margin is high.

Statement 2: When estimating the terminal value in the three-stage dividend growth model, it can be estimated using the Gordon Growth Model or a price-multiple approach.
Which of the following is closest to the current value for Maple Goods and Services stock?

  1. $15.90.
  2. $49.13.
  3. $67.13.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The firm should be valued using an H dividend discount model given that an initially high rate of growth declines linearly over a specified period. The formula is:



Marie Williams, CFA, and David Pacious, CFA, are portfolio managers for Stillwell Managers. Williams and Pacious are attending a conference held by Henri Financial Education on the fundamentals of valuation for common stock, preferred stock, and other assets.
During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
• Firm A is a noncyclical consumer products firm with a 50 year history. The firm pays a $1.80 dividend per share and attempts to increase dividends by 4% a year. Earnings and dividends have steadily increased for the past 20 years.
• Firm B is a technology firm. It has never paid a dividend and does not expect to in the near future. Furthermore, due to large investments in new factories and equipment, the firm is not expected to generate positive free cash flow in the foreseeable future.
• Firm C is an industrial firm with currently very little competition and a dividend growth rate of 9% a year. However, the profits in its product market have started to attract competitors and it is expected that Firm C's profits will slowly decline such that the dividend growth steadily falls each year until it reaches a growth rate of 4% a year.
• Firm D is a pharmaceutical firm that is currently enjoying high profits and paying dividends. However, the firm's strongest selling drug is coming off patent in three years. With no other drugs in the pipeline, the firm's dividend growth rate is expected to drop abruptly in three years and settle at a lower growth rate.

The next day, Pacious decides to put what he learned into practice. The stock he is valuing, Maple Goods and Services, currently pays a dividend of $3.00. The dividend growth rate is 25% and is expected to steadily decline over the next 8 years to a stable rate of 7% thereafter. Given its risk, Pacious estimates that the required return is 5%.

Williams analyzes the value of Mataka Plastics stock. Its dividend is expected to grow at a rate of 18% for the next four years, after which it will grow at 4%. This year's dividend is $5.00 and Williams estimates the required return at 15%.

From the seminar, Pacious learned that a firm's health can be gauged by the present value of its future investment opportunities (PVGO). Tackling a calculation, he uses the following example for Wood Athletic Supplies:

Stock price $90.00
Current earnings $5.50
Expected earnings $6.00
Required return on stock 15%

Pacious and Williams discuss the characteristics of firms in various stages of growth, where firms experience an initial growth phase, a transitional phase, and a maturity phase in their life. They both agree that the Gordon Growth Model is not always appropriate. Pacious makes the following statements.

Statement 1: For firms in the initial growth phase, earnings are rapidly increasing, there are little or no dividends, and there is heavy reinvestment. The return on equity is, however, higher than the required return on the stock, the free cash flows to equity are positive, and the profit margin is high.
Statement 2: When estimating the terminal value in the three-stage dividend growth model, it can be estimated using the Gordon Growth Model or a price-multiple approach.

Which of the following is closest to the current value for Mataka Plastics stock?

  1. $62.49.
  2. $73.73.
  3. $81.60.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

If you grow the $5-00 dividend out for four years at 18%, the first four dividends are:



Discounting the dividends from the end of year four to perpetuity using the dividend discount model, you obtain:

10.0816/(0.15 - 0.04) - $91.65. Discounting this figure back to the present, you have 91.65/(1.1 )= $52.40
Summing up the present values of all the above (5.13 + 5.26 + 5.40 + 5.54 + 52.40), you have a total price of $73.73.
Note that your answer may differ slightly from the answer above due to rounding. (Study Session 11, LOS 40.m)



Marie Williams, CFA, and David Pacious, CFA, are portfolio managers for Stillwell Managers. Williams and Pacious are attending a conference held by Henri Financial Education on the fundamentals of valuation for common stock, preferred stock, and other assets.
During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.

During the conference, the presenter uses an example of four different companies to illustrate the valuation of common stock from the perspective of a minority shareholder.
• Firm A is a noncyclical consumer products firm with a 50 year history. The firm pays a $1.80 dividend per share and attempts to increase dividends by 4% a year. Earnings and dividends have steadily increased for the past
20 years.
• Firm B is a technology firm. It has never paid a dividend and does not expect to in the near future. Furthermore, due to large investments in new factories and equipment, the firm is not expected to generate positive free cash flow in the foreseeable future.
• Firm C is an industrial firm with currently very little competition and a dividend growth rate of 9% a year. However, the profits in its product market have started to attract competitors and it is expected that Firm C's profits will slowly decline such that the dividend growth steadily falls each year until it reaches a growth rate of 4% a year.
• Firm D is a pharmaceutical firm that is currently enjoying high profits and paying dividends. However, the firm's strongest selling drug is coming off patent in three years. With no other drugs in the pipeline, the firm's dividend growth rate is expected to drop abruptly in three years and settle at a lower growth rate.

The next day, Pacious decides to put what he learned into practice. The stock he is valuing, Maple Goods and Services, currently pays a dividend of $3.00. The dividend growth rate is 25% and is expected to steadily decline over the next 8 years to a stable rate of 7% thereafter. Given its risk, Pacious estimates that the required return is 5%.

Williams analyzes the value of Mataka Plastics stock. Its dividend is expected to grow at a rate of 18% for the next four years, after which it will grow at 4%. This year's dividend is $5.00 and Williams estimates the required return at 15%.

From the seminar, Pacious learned that a firm's health can be gauged by the present value of its future investment opportunities (PVGO). Tackling a calculation, he uses the following example for Wood Athletic Supplies:

Stock price $90.00
Current earnings $5.50
Expected earnings $6.00
Required return on stock 15%

Pacious and Williams discuss the characteristics of firms in various stages of growth, where firms experience an initial growth phase, a transitional phase, and a maturity phase in their life. They both agree that the Gordon Growth Model is not always appropriate. Pacious makes the following statements.

Statement 1: For firms in the initial growth phase, earnings are rapidly increasing, there are little or no dividends, and there is heavy reinvestment. The return on equity is, however, higher than the required return on the stock, the free cash flows to equity are positive, and the profit margin is high.

Statement 2: When estimating the terminal value in the three-stage dividend growth model, it can be estimated using the Gordon Growth Model or a price-multiple approach.

Which of the following is closest to the percent of Wood Athletic Supplies leading P/E related to PVGO?

  1. 56%.
  2. 59%.
  3. 69%.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The stock price represents the present value of the future dividends (on a no growth basis) and the present value of the growth opportunities (PVGO):

value = + PVGO

Thus the value of a firm's equity has two components: the value of its assets in place (E/r) and the present value of its future investment opportunities (PVGO).
We will use leading earnings because the P/E is specified as the leading P/E. Backing out the PVGO, we have

90 = PVGO 0.15

PVGO = 50
The P/E for the firm is 90/6 = 15.00.
The P/E of the PVGO is 50/6 = 8.33.

The percent of Wood Athletic Supplies leading P/E related to PVGO is then 8.33 / 15.00 = 56%. (Study Session 11, LOS 40.f)



Viewing page 45 of 145
Viewing questions 221 - 225 out of 715 questions


Post your Comments and Discuss CFA CFA-Level-II exam prep with other Community members:

AI Tutor AI Tutor 👋 I’m here to help!