P5–3 Risk preferences Sharon Smith, the financial manager for Barnett Corporation, wishes to evaluate three prospective investments: X, Y, and Z. Currently, the firm earns 12% on its investments, which have a risk index of 6%. The expected return and expected risk of the investments are as follows: a. If Sharon were risk-indifferent, which investments would she select? Explain why. b. If she were risk-averse, which investments would she select? Why? c. If she were risk-seeking, which investments would she select? Why? d. Given the traditional risk preference behavior exhibited by financial managers, which investment would be preferred? Why? P5–4 Risk analysis Solar Designs is considering an investment in an expanded product line. Two possible types of expansion are being considered. After investigating the possible outcomes, the company made the estimates shown in the following table: a. Determine the range of the rates of return for each of the two projects. b. Which project is less risky? Why? c. If you were making the investment decision, which one would you choose? Why? What does this imply about your feelings toward risk? d. Assume that expansion B’s most likely outcome is 21% per year and that all other facts remain the same. Does this change your answer to part c? Why? P 5-13 PERSONAL FINANCE PROBLEM P5–13p5-13 p Portfolio return and standard deviation Jamie Wong is considering building an investment portfolio containing two stocks, L and M. Stock L will represent 40% of the dollar value of the portfolio, and stock M will account for the other 60%. The expected returns over the next 6 years, 2010–2015, for each of these stocks are shown in the following table: a. Calculate the expected portfolio return, rp, for each of the 6 years. b. Calculate the expected value of portfolio returns, , over the 6-year period. c. Calculate the standard deviation of expected portfolio returns, rp, over the 6-year period. d. How would you characterize the correlation of returns of the two stocks L and M? e. Discuss any benefits of diversification achieved by Jamie through creation of the portfolio. P10–14 Unequal lives—ANPV approach Portland Products is considering the purchase of one of three mutually exclusive projects for increasing production efficiency. The firm plans to use a 14% cost of capital to evaluate these equal-risk projects. The initial investment and annual cash inflows over the life of each project are shown in the following table. Project X Project Y Project Z Initial investment (CF0) $78,000 $52,000 $66,000 Year (t) Cash inflows (CFt) 1 $17,000 $28,000 $15,000 2 25,000 38,000 15,000 3 33,000 — 15,000 4 41,000 — 15,000 5 — — 15,000 6 — — 15,000 7 — — 15,000 8 — — 15,000 a. Calculate the NPV for each project over its life. Rank the projects in descending order on the basis of NPV. b. Use the annualized net present value (ANPV) approach to evaluate and rank the projects in descending order on the basis of ANPV. c. Compare and contrast your findings in parts a and b. Which project would you recommend that the firm purchase? Why?
