Cost of Capital Definition - Answers The cost of capital (WACC) is the overall interest rate that
companies pay to finance operations and assets, used in project valuation and investment
decisions.
What Determines WACC? - Answers WACC reflects the risk of the project, not just the funding
source. Different divisions and projects within a company may have different WACCs.
WACC Formula - Answers WACC = Wd Kd (1-T) + We Ke, where Wd and We are the weights of
debt and equity, and Kd and Ke are their respective costs.
Cost of Debt Definition - Answers The cost of debt (Kd) is the expected interest rate paid on
borrowed funds, based on project risk and repayment terms.
Sources of Debt Financing - Answers Debt financing can come from banks, selling bonds, or
loans from individuals or other companies.
Bond Terminology - Answers Maturity - Total life of bond; Face Value - Amount paid at maturity;
Coupon Payment - Periodic interest paid to bondholder.
Bond Indenture - Answers A legal contract specifying bond terms, including payment schedules,
maturity, and any options such as convertibility or callable features.
Yield to Maturity (YTM) - Answers The expected return if a bond is held to maturity, calculated
using bond price, coupon payments, and face value.
Bond Price vs. Yield Relationship - Answers If market interest rates are higher than the bond's
coupon rate, the bond trades at a discount. If lower, it trades at a premium.
Current Yield - Answers Measures bond income relative to its market price. Formula: Current
Yield = Annual Coupon Payment / Bond Price.
Yield to Call (YTC) - Answers The yield earned if a callable bond is redeemed before maturity,
reflecting the issuer's right to repurchase the bond early.
Types of Bonds - Answers Premium Bond - Trades above face value; Par Bond - Trades at face
value; Discount Bond - Trades below face value.
Risk Components in Yield - Answers Total return = Risk-free rate + Risk premium, where risk
premium accounts for default, liquidity, and interest rate risks.
Risk-Free Rate Components - Answers Includes a real rate (reward for delayed consumption)
and an inflation premium to preserve purchasing power.
Interest Rate Risk - Answers Longer-term bonds and bonds with lower coupon payments
experience larger price changes when interest rates fluctuate.