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CFA Level II Chartered Financial Analyst Questions 140–144 (page: 50)

Updated On: 10-Feb-2026

Jane Bowman, CFA, and Frank Shrum, CFA, are analysts for Brookstonc Advisors. Brookstone recommends investments in United States and global markets. Bowman and Shrum are responsible for analyzing investments and conducting cyclical analysis in developed and emerging markets.

Bowman is examining the country of Waltonia for a possible investment. Currently, the country's economy is beginning to recover from a recession. Businesses have increasing confidence in the economy, inflation is falling, the government is stimulating the economy, and the economy has just started to expand. Bowman identifies this is as the recovery stage of the business cycle and states that since inflation is falling, investors should put their money in bonds.

In terms of the business cycle, Waltonia has grown slower than its neighboring country of Bergamo, where the economy is in the early stages of an upswing. Bergamese businesses are confident and inventories are increasing. Bowman states that an investment in commodities or stocks would be advised because when the economy grows, these assets will rise in price.
Shrum is examining the value of a company in the United States using the franchise value model. In it, he will generate an intrinsic P/E ratio that can be multiplied against the firm's projected earnings to derive a value for the company. The intrinsic P/E value consists of the tangible P/E value, which represents the firm's static value, and a franchise P/E value which represents the firm's growth value. The franchise P/E value then consists of the franchise factor, which incorporates the required return on new investments, and the growth factor, which factors in the present value of the excess return from new investments. He applies this analysis to the firm of Salisbury Materials, which has the following characteristics:

Return on Equity 20%
Dividend Payout Ratio 40%
Required Return on Equity 16%

In light of the increased inflation in the United States due to increased commodity prices. Bowman is examining the effect of inflation on the P/E ratio. She states that when there is not full-flow- through of inflation, a firm in a low inflation country will have a higher P/E ratio than one in a high inflation country. She provides the following example of inflation flow-through. If the real required return is 9%, inflation is 4%, and the inflation flow-through rate is 80%, then the P/E ratio will be 10.2.

Shrum states that when valuing an emerging market, an investor should adjust their projections for the higher inflation risk. He states that the analyst should adjust the cash flows rather than the discount rate for the increased risks from emerging markets, such as political risk and macroeconomic risk. Bowman adds that there are several arguments that can be made and makes the following statements.

Statement 1: One argument is that companies respond differently to the risk in their country. For example, exporters would benefit from a weaker local currency but importers would be hurt by a depreciating local currency. Adjusting the discount rate by the same amount for all companies within a country would misstate the influence of country risk on each company.

Statement 2: Additionally, country risk is one-sided and asymmetric in that the country risk to foreign investors is much greater than that to local investors. So if a single discount rate were used to discount cash flows, then the valuations would be inaccurate for either the foreign investors or the local investors.

Shrum follows up with Bowman's analysis. He states that an alternative to adjusting the cash flows is to calculate a weighted average cost of capital for the emerging country firm and add a country risk premium to it. This discount rate would then be applied against unadjusted cash flows to value the emerging market firm. Regarding this analysis, he makes the following statements.

Statement 3: When estimating the percent of debt and equity in the capital structure, the market value of the firm's debt and equity should be used, not the book value.

Statement 4: The beta will be needed to obtain the cost of equity capital in the CAPM. The beta should be estimated for the company by regressing the company's returns against a well diversified global index, not the local market index.

Which of the following is closest to the intrinsic P/E value for Salisbury Materials?

  1. 2.5.
  2. 7.5.
  3. 10.0.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

To obtain the intrinsic P/E value for Salisbury Materials, we first calculate the tangible P/E value, which is just the inverse of the required return on equity (r):


The franchise factor represents the required return on new investments and is the difference between the inverse of the required return on equity and the inverse of the return on equity (ROE):


The sustainable growth rate is the ROE times the retention ratio. The retention ratio (b) is one minus the dividend payout ratio.

Sustainable Grouth Rate = g = ROE x b = 0.20 x 0.60 = 0.12

The growth factor (G) represents the present value of the excess return from new investments and is calculated as:

Growth Factor



The franchise P/E value is the franchise factor times the growth factor: Franchise P/E Value = FF x G = 1.25 x 3-00 = 3.75
The intrinsic P/E value is the sum of the tangible P/E value and the franchise P/E value:
Intrinsic P/E Value = Tangible P/E Value + Franchise P/E Value = 6.25 + 375 = 10.00
(Study Session ll,LOS36.c)



Jane Bowman, CFA, and Frank Shrum, CFA, are analysts for Brookstonc Advisors. Brookstone recommends investments in United States and global markets. Bowman and Shrum are responsible for analyzing investments and conducting cyclical analysis in developed and emerging markets.

Bowman is examining the country of Waltonia for a possible investment. Currently, the country's economy is beginning to recover from a recession. Businesses have increasing confidence in the economy, inflation is falling, the government is stimulating the economy, and the economy has just started to expand. Bowman identifies this is as the recovery stage of the business cycle and states that since inflation is falling, investors should put their money in bonds.

In terms of the business cycle, Waltonia has grown slower than its neighboring country of Bergamo, where the economy is in the early stages of an upswing. Bergamese businesses are confident and inventories are increasing. Bowman states that an investment in commodities or stocks would be advised because when the economy grows, these assets will rise in price.
Shrum is examining the value of a company in the United States using the franchise value model. In it, he will generate an intrinsic P/E ratio that can be multiplied against the firm's projected earnings to derive a value for the company. The intrinsic P/E value consists of the tangible P/E value, which represents the firm's static value, and a franchise P/E value which represents the firm's growth value. The franchise P/E value then consists of the franchise factor, which incorporates the required return on new investments, and the growth factor, which factors in the present value of the excess return from new investments. He applies this analysis to the firm of Salisbury Materials, which has the following characteristics:

Return on Equity 20%
Dividend Payout Ratio 40%
Required Return on Equity 16%

In light of the increased inflation in the United States due to increased commodity prices. Bowman is examining the effect of inflation on the P/E ratio. She states that when there is not full-flow- through of inflation, a firm in a low inflation country will have a higher P/E ratio than one in a high inflation country. She provides the following example of inflation flow-through. If the real required return is 9%, inflation is 4%, and the inflation flow-through rate is 80%, then the P/E ratio will be 10.2.

Shrum states that when valuing an emerging market, an investor should adjust their projections for the higher inflation risk. He states that the analyst should adjust the cash flows rather than the discount rate for the increased risks from emerging markets, such as political risk and macroeconomic risk. Bowman adds that there are several arguments that can be made and makes the following statements.

Statement 1: One argument is that companies respond differently to the risk in their country. For example, exporters would benefit from a weaker local currency but importers would be hurt by a depreciating local currency. Adjusting the discount rate by the same amount for all companies within a country would misstate the influence of country risk on each company.

Statement 2: Additionally, country risk is one-sided and asymmetric in that the country risk to foreign investors is much greater than that to local investors. So if a single discount rate were used to discount cash flows, then the valuations would be inaccurate for either the foreign investors or the local investors.

Shrum follows up with Bowman's analysis. He states that an alternative to adjusting the cash flows is to calculate a weighted average cost of capital for the emerging country firm and add a country risk premium to it. This discount rate would then be applied against unadjusted cash flows to value the emerging market firm. Regarding this analysis, he makes the following statements.

Statement 3: When estimating the percent of debt and equity in the capital structure, the market value of the firm's debt and equity should be used, not the book value.

Statement 4: The beta will be needed to obtain the cost of equity capital in the CAPM. The beta should be estimated for the company by regressing the company's returns against a well diversified global index, not the local market index.

Regarding Bowman's statements on inflation flow-through and the calculated P/E ratio, are both statements correct?

  1. Yes.
  2. No, both statements are incorrect,
  3. No, only the statement regarding inflation flow-through is correct.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Bowman is correct that, all else equal and in the absence of full-flow-through of inflation, a firm in a low inflation country will have a higher P/E ratio than one in a high inflation country.

Her calculation is also correct, the P/E reflecting the effect of inflation is:


(Study Session 11. LOS 36.d)



Jane Bowman, CFA, and Frank Shrum, CFA, are analysts for Brookstonc Advisors. Brookstone recommends investments in United States and global markets. Bowman and Shrum are responsible for analyzing investments and conducting cyclical analysis in developed and emerging markets.

Bowman is examining the country of Waltonia for a possible investment. Currently, the country's economy is beginning to recover from a recession. Businesses have increasing confidence in the economy, inflation is falling, the government is stimulating the economy, and the economy has just started to expand. Bowman identifies this is as the recovery stage of the business cycle and states that since inflation is falling, investors should put their money in bonds.

In terms of the business cycle, Waltonia has grown slower than its neighboring country of Bergamo, where the economy is in the early stages of an upswing. Bergamese businesses are confident and inventories are increasing. Bowman states that an investment in commodities or stocks would be advised because when the economy grows, these assets will rise in price.
Shrum is examining the value of a company in the United States using the franchise value model. In it, he will generate an intrinsic P/E ratio that can be multiplied against the firm's projected earnings to derive a value for the company. The intrinsic P/E value consists of the tangible P/E value, which represents the firm's static value, and a franchise P/E value which represents the firm's growth value. The franchise P/E value then consists of the franchise factor, which incorporates the required return on new investments, and the growth factor, which factors in the present value of the excess return from new investments. He applies this analysis to the firm of Salisbury Materials, which has the following characteristics:

Return on Equity 20%
Dividend Payout Ratio 40%
Required Return on Equity 16%

In light of the increased inflation in the United States due to increased commodity prices. Bowman is examining the effect of inflation on the P/E ratio. She states that when there is not full-flow- through of inflation, a firm in a low inflation country will have a higher P/E ratio than one in a high inflation country. She provides the following example of inflation flow-through. If the real required return is 9%, inflation is 4%, and the inflation flow-through rate is 80%, then the P/E ratio will be 10.2.

Shrum states that when valuing an emerging market, an investor should adjust their projections for the higher inflation risk. He states that the analyst should adjust the cash flows rather than the discount rate for the increased risks from emerging markets, such as political risk and macroeconomic risk. Bowman adds that there are several arguments that can be made and makes the following statements.

Statement 1: One argument is that companies respond differently to the risk in their country. For example, exporters would benefit from a weaker local currency but importers would be hurt by a depreciating local currency. Adjusting the discount rate by the same amount for all companies within a country would misstate the influence of country risk on each company.

Statement 2: Additionally, country risk is one-sided and asymmetric in that the country risk to foreign investors is much greater than that to local investors. So if a single discount rate were used to discount cash flows, then the valuations would be inaccurate for either the foreign investors or the local investors.

Shrum follows up with Bowman's analysis. He states that an alternative to adjusting the cash flows is to calculate a weighted average cost of capital for the emerging country firm and add a country risk premium to it. This discount rate would then be applied against unadjusted cash flows to value the emerging market firm. Regarding this analysis, he makes the following statements.

Statement 3: When estimating the percent of debt and equity in the capital structure, the market value of the firm's debt and equity should be used, not the book value.

Statement 4: The beta will be needed to obtain the cost of equity capital in the CAPM. The beta should be estimated for the company by regressing the company's returns against a well diversified global index, not the local market index.

Regarding inflation adjustments in emerging markets, which of the following ratios are most likely to be correctly estimated when using nominal forecasts of firm performance?

  1. Return on invested capital.
  2. Net working capital to revenues.
  3. Net property plant and equipment to revenues.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Net working capital to revenues will be correctly estimated with either real or nominal projections. Return on invested capital will be overstated in nominal terms whereas net property plant and equipment to revenues will be understated in nominal terms. (Study Session 11, LOS 39-b)



Jane Bowman, CFA, and Frank Shrum, CFA, are analysts for Brookstonc Advisors. Brookstone recommends investments in United States and global markets. Bowman and Shrum are responsible for analyzing investments and conducting cyclical analysis in developed and emerging markets.

Bowman is examining the country of Waltonia for a possible investment. Currently, the country's economy is beginning to recover from a recession. Businesses have increasing confidence in the economy, inflation is falling, the government is stimulating the economy, and the economy has just started to expand. Bowman identifies this is as the recovery stage of the business cycle and states that since inflation is falling, investors should put their money in bonds.

In terms of the business cycle, Waltonia has grown slower than its neighboring country of Bergamo, where the economy is in the early stages of an upswing. Bergamese businesses are confident and inventories are increasing. Bowman states that an investment in commodities or stocks would be advised because when the economy grows, these assets will rise in price.
Shrum is examining the value of a company in the United States using the franchise value model. In it, he will generate an intrinsic P/E ratio that can be multiplied against the firm's projected earnings to derive a value for the company. The intrinsic P/E value consists of the tangible P/E value, which represents the firm's static value, and a franchise P/E value which represents the firm's growth value. The franchise P/E value then consists of the franchise factor, which incorporates the required return on new investments, and the growth factor, which factors in the present value of the excess return from new investments. He applies this analysis to the firm of Salisbury Materials, which has the following characteristics:

Return on Equity 20%
Dividend Payout Ratio 40%
Required Return on Equity 16%

In light of the increased inflation in the United States due to increased commodity prices. Bowman is examining the effect of inflation on the P/E ratio. She states that when there is not full-flow- through of inflation, a firm in a low inflation country will have a higher P/E ratio than one in a high inflation country. She provides the following example of inflation flow-through. If the real required return is 9%, inflation is 4%, and the inflation flow-through rate is 80%, then the P/E ratio will be 10.2.

Shrum states that when valuing an emerging market, an investor should adjust their projections for the higher inflation risk. He states that the analyst should adjust the cash flows rather than the discount rate for the increased risks from emerging markets, such as political risk and macroeconomic risk. Bowman adds that there are several arguments that can be made and makes the following statements.

Statement 1: One argument is that companies respond differently to the risk in their country. For example, exporters would benefit from a weaker local currency but importers would be hurt by a depreciating local currency. Adjusting the discount rate by the same amount for all companies within a country would misstate the influence of country risk on each company.

Statement 2: Additionally, country risk is one-sided and asymmetric in that the country risk to foreign investors is much greater than that to local investors. So if a single discount rate were used to discount cash flows, then the valuations would be inaccurate for either the foreign investors or the local investors.

Shrum follows up with Bowman's analysis. He states that an alternative to adjusting the cash flows is to calculate a weighted average cost of capital for the emerging country firm and add a country risk premium to it. This discount rate would then be applied against unadjusted cash flows to value the emerging market firm. Regarding this analysis, he makes the following statements.

Statement 3: When estimating the percent of debt and equity in the capital structure, the market value of the firm's debt and equity should be used, not the book value.

Statement 4: The beta will be needed to obtain the cost of equity capital in the CAPM. The beta should be estimated for the company by regressing the company's returns against a well diversified global index, not the local market index.

Regarding Bowman's justifications for adjusting emerging market country risk by the cash flows, are both Statements 1 and 2 correct?

  1. Yes.
  2. No, both statements are incorrect.
  3. No, only Statement 1 is correct.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Shrum is correct in his statement that emerging market valuations should be adjusted for country risk by adjusting the cash flows and not the discount rate.
Statement 1: Her argument that companies within an emerging market will be affected differently by country risk is correct.
Statement 2: It may be true that country risk for foreign investors is greater than that for local investors. However, Bowman is incorrect in her justification because she incorrectly describes the one-sided nature of country risk in this context. Country risk is asymmetric because many emerging market companies have risk profiles that are one¬sided (down only). It is best to adjust for this in the cash flows rather than to adjust the discount rate. (Study Session 11, LOS 39.c)



Jane Bowman, CFA, and Frank Shrum, CFA, are analysts for Brookstonc Advisors. Brookstone recommends investments in United States and global markets. Bowman and Shrum are responsible for analyzing investments and conducting cyclical analysis in developed and emerging markets.

Bowman is examining the country of Waltonia for a possible investment. Currently, the country's economy is beginning to recover from a recession. Businesses have increasing confidence in the economy, inflation is falling, the government is stimulating the economy, and the economy has just started to expand. Bowman identifies this is as the recovery stage of the business cycle and states that since inflation is falling, investors should put their money in bonds.

In terms of the business cycle, Waltonia has grown slower than its neighboring country of Bergamo, where the economy is in the early stages of an upswing. Bergamese businesses are confident and inventories are increasing. Bowman states that an investment in commodities or stocks would be advised because when the economy grows, these assets will rise in price.
Shrum is examining the value of a company in the United States using the franchise value model. In it, he will generate an intrinsic P/E ratio that can be multiplied against the firm's projected earnings to derive a value for the company. The intrinsic P/E value consists of the tangible P/E value, which represents the firm's static value, and a franchise P/E value which represents the firm's growth value. The franchise P/E value then consists of the franchise factor, which incorporates the required return on new investments, and the growth factor, which factors in the present value of the excess return from new investments. He applies this analysis to the firm of Salisbury Materials, which has the following characteristics:

Return on Equity 20%
Dividend Payout Ratio 40%
Required Return on Equity 16%

In light of the increased inflation in the United States due to increased commodity prices. Bowman is examining the effect of inflation on the P/E ratio. She states that when there is not full-flow- through of inflation, a firm in a low inflation country will have a higher P/E ratio than one in a high inflation country. She provides the following example of inflation flow-through. If the real required return is 9%, inflation is 4%, and the inflation flow-through rate is 80%, then the P/E ratio will be 10.2.

Shrum states that when valuing an emerging market, an investor should adjust their projections for the higher inflation risk. He states that the analyst should adjust the cash flows rather than the discount rate for the increased risks from emerging markets, such as political risk and macroeconomic risk. Bowman adds that there are several arguments that can be made and makes the following statements.

Statement 1: One argument is that companies respond differently to the risk in their country. For example, exporters would benefit from a weaker local currency but importers would be hurt by a depreciating local currency. Adjusting the discount rate by the same amount for all companies within a country would misstate the influence of country risk on each company.

Statement 2: Additionally, country risk is one-sided and asymmetric in that the country risk to foreign investors is much greater than that to local investors. So if a single discount rate were used to discount cash flows, then the valuations would be inaccurate for either the foreign investors or the local investors.

Shrum follows up with Bowman's analysis. He states that an alternative to adjusting the cash flows is to calculate a weighted average cost of capital for the emerging country firm and add a country risk premium to it. This discount rate would then be applied against unadjusted cash flows to value the emerging market firm. Regarding this analysis, he makes the following statements.

Statement 3: When estimating the percent of debt and equity in the capital structure, the market value of the firm's debt and equity should be used, not the book value.

Statement 4: The beta will be needed to obtain the cost of equity capital in the CAPM. The beta should be estimated for the company by regressing the company's returns against a well diversified global index, not the local market index.

Regarding Shrum's Statements 3 and 4 on the estimation of the weighted average cost of capital for an emerging country firm, are both statements correct?

  1. Yes.
  2. No, both statements are incorrect.
  3. No, only Statement 3 is correct.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Statement 3: Shrum is incorrect because the debt and equity weights from a global industry index should be used* not the weights for the firm. Firms in emerging markets often use debt conservatively and this results in lower leverage ratios than for firms in the same industry in other countries.
Statement 4: Shrum is incorrect because an industry beta for the firm's industry should be estimated, not an individual firm beta. Shrum is correct however that a well diversified global index, not the local market index, should be used. (Study Session 11, LOS 39-d)



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