the banker indicated that the underwriting
cost (flotation cost) on a preferred
stock issue would be $2.60 per share and
$2.00 per share on common stock. AI
Hansen further observed that his firm was in
a 35 percent marginal tax bracket.
With all this information in hand, AI
Hansen sat down to determine his firm's
cost of capital. He was a little col1fused
about computing the firn1 ' s cost of common
equity. He knew there were two different formulas: one: one for the cost of retained earnings and one for the cost of new
common stock. His investment banker suggested that he follow the normally
accepted approach used in determining the marginal cost of capital. First,
determine the cost of capital for as large a capital structure as current retained
earnings will support: then, determine the cost of capital based on exclusively
using new common stock.