Star Appliance Case Study

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Star Appliance Case Study Situation: Star Appliance is looking to expand their product line and is considering three different projects: dishwashers, garbage disposals, and trash compactors. We want to determine which project would be worth doing by determining if they will add value to Star. Thus, the project(s) that will add the most value to Star Appliance will be worth pursuing. The current hurdle rate of 10% should be re-evaluated by finding the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). Then by forecasting the cash flows of each project and discounting them by the WACC to find the net present value, or by solving for the internal rate of return, we should be able to see which projects Star should undertake. Conclusion: Which Projects? After calculating the Net Present Value (NPV) and the Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for each project, I have determined that both the dishwasher and the trash compactor projects should be pursued. Both of them have shown positive NPVs at the new discount rate of 11.58% (WACC). Another indicator that told me that these two projects should be pursued by Star was that they both yielded IRRs greater than the given hurdle rate. The disposal did not meet these requirements and therefore should not be undertaken. How to Fund the Projects? Based on the optimal capital structure analysis, they should pursue as 70% debt proportion, which will give them the lowest cost of capital at 11.58%. Currently Star has no debt in their capital structure, so these new projects should begin to add debt to the company. However, no matter what debt and equity proportions are chosen for each project, the discount rate of 11.58% should be used, as the capital budgeting decisions should be independ... ... middle of paper ... ...tly forecasting their cash flows. If you have one, you're arbitrarily adding numbers and The calculated hurdle rate includes a safety margin because the highest measure of Re is used. This is not to say that Re could never succeed . Hurdle rate increased to cover safety projects? The hurdle rate should not be adjusted for these safety projects. They should use the same hurdle rate standard as their cost of capital no matter what the project is. Even if it is "not for profit," we should still look for a positive net present value so we do not incur a loss. Different required returns for different projects? The hurdle rate should not change depending on the project. The hurdle rate is the cost of raising funds and it should be the same no matter how the project is financed.

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