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Financial Reporting and Analysis 7th

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Chapter 6 The Role of Financial Information in Valuation and Credit Risk Assessment

True/False

[QUESTION]
1. The discounted cash flow valuation approach expresses current value of a firm as the
discounted present value of expected future cash flows.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
AICPA: FN Measurement
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Approach to valuation

[QUESTION]
2. In applying the free cash flow valuation model, the discount rate used is the weighted-average
cost of capital.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Free cash flow model

[QUESTION]
3. Accrual accounting produces an earnings number that depicts the effects of economic events on
cash flows in the period in which the effects occur and provides an estimate of sustainable long-
run future free cash flows.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
4. In the flows to equity model of valuation, and using simplifying assumptions, the current stock
price estimate can be expressed as a capitalization rate (1 × r) multiplied by a perpetuity equal to
cash flow after paying debtholders and preferred shareholders.
Answer: False
Feedback: The capitalization rate is (1 ÷ r).
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Flows to equity model

[QUESTION]
5. The two most significant explanations for variations in the earnings multiple are risk
differences and maturity of the firm.
Answer: False
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
6. The value of the future growth opportunities of a firm can be determined by considering the
firm’s potential earnings from reinvesting current earnings in new projects that will eventually
earn a rate of return more than the cost of equity capital.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
7. Return on assets (ROA) can be used to assess whether a firm is likely to earn a return on
reinvested earnings that exceeds its cost of equity capital.

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Answer: False
Feedback: Return on common equity (ROCE) can be used for this purpose.
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
8. A component that is unrelated to future free cash flows or future earnings and is not pertinent
to assessing current share price is a noise component.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
9. The degree of conservatism associated with a firm’s accounting choices will have a direct
bearing on the relationships among share price, earnings, and the firm’s equity book value
components of the abnormal earnings valuation approach.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
10. Much of the information needed for assessing the quality and value-relevance of a
company’s reported accounting numbers cannot be found in the company’s Form 10-K.
Answer: False
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
11. Under the GAAP hierarchy of approaches used in measuring fair value, Level 3 uses quoted
prices from active markets for identical assets or liabilities to determine fair value.
Answer: False
Feedback: Level 1 uses quoted prices from active markets for identical assets or liabilities to
determine fair value.
Learning Objective: 06-03
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Fair value measurements

[QUESTION]
12. Because income from discontinued operations is not likely to be recurring, it would be
considered transitory earnings and be valued at a lower multiple than recurring components
(such as income from operations).
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
13. If securities markets are rational and efficient in that they fully and correctly include all
available information into a company’s stock price, the resulting price will reflect investors’
unbiased expectations about the company’s future earnings and cash flows.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-06
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Stock returns and earnings surprises

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
14. Lenders form opinions about a firm’s credit risk by comparing current and future debt-
service requirements to the estimates of the firm’s current and expected future cash flows.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Types of lending

[QUESTION]
15. The starting point for developing comprehensive financial statement forecasts is a detailed
understanding of the company, its recent financial performance and its health.
Answer: True
Learning Objective: 06-08
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Appendix B―Forecasts of financial statements

Multiple Choice

[QUESTION]
16. The fundamental valuation approach to business valuation uses basic accounting measures to
assess the amount, timing and
a. certainty of a firm’s past operating cash flows or earnings.
b. certainty of a firm’s future non-operating cash flows or earnings.
c. uncertainty of a firm’s future operating cash flows or earnings.
d. uncertainty of a firm’s future non-operating cash flows or earnings.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
17. The steps involved in business valuation are forecasting the future values of a financial
attribute that drives a company’s value, determining the risk associated with that forecasted value
and determining the
a. future values of the value-relevant attribute.
b. certain future value of earnings.
c. present value of a firm’s earnings.
d. discounted present value of the expected future amounts using a discount rate that reflects the
risk or uncertainty.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation

[QUESTION]
18. Cash flow assessment plays a central role in analyzing
a. the credit risk of a company.
b. management’s effectiveness.
c. the future earnings potential of a company.
d. the firm’s investment potential.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation

[QUESTION]
19. Valuing an entire company, an operating division of that company or its ownership shares
involves three basic steps. These steps include all of the following except:
a. Forecasting future amounts of a value-relevant attribute.
b. Determining the risk or uncertainty associated with the forecasted future amounts.
c. Determining the discounted present value of the expected future amounts using an appropriate
discount rate.
d. Determining the dividends the company will pay in the future based on the company’s
dividend policy and expected future earnings.
Answer: d

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation

[QUESTION]
20. When using the discounted flows to equity valuation model, the market value of common
shares depends upon investors’
a. future expectations about the future economic prospects of cash flows before payments to
debtholders and preferred shareholders.
b. current expectations about the future economic prospects of cash flows after payments to
debtholders and preferred shareholders.
c. future expectations about the current economic prospects of cash flows to both debtholders
and preferred shareholders.
d. current expectations about the current economic prospects of cash flows to both debtholders
and preferred shareholders.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Flows to equity model

[QUESTION]
21. A simplified version of the discounted free cash flow valuation model assumes a zero-growth
perpetuity for future cash flows. This assumption is best applied to
a. start-up firms with stable cash flow patterns.
b. growth firms with increasing cash flow patterns.
c. growth firms with stable cash flow patterns.
d. mature firms with stable cash flow patterns.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Free cash flow model

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
22. To apply the discounted free cash flow model, the analyst needs to estimate
a net cash flows from operations for each future period, starting one period from now.
b. free cash flows for each future period, starting one period from now.
c. free cash flows for approximately ten years as the present value of cash flows occurring
beyond that point are insignificant.
d. net cash flows from operations for approximately ten years as the present value of cash flows
occurring beyond that point are insignificant.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Free cash flow model

[QUESTION]
23. The FASB stresses that the primary objective of financial reporting is to provide information
useful to investors and creditors in assessing the amount, timing and uncertainty of future net
cash flows. The FASB contends that
a. users pay attention to firms’ accounting earnings because this accrual measure of periodic firm
performance improves their ability to forecast future cash flows.
b. information about current cash receipts and payments is the best indicator for this task.
c. users pay attention to managements’ estimates of free cash flows because this information
improves their ability to forecast future cash flows.
d. current cash flows outperform current earnings in predicting future cash flows.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
24. By using accruals and deferrals, accrual accounting
a. produces a cash flow number that reflects only cash earnings.
b. produces information about current cash receipts and payments.
c. enables management to estimate future free cash flows.
d. produces an earnings number that depicts the effects of economic events on cash flows.
Answer: d

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
25. Research indicates that stock returns correlate better with
a. accrual earnings than realized operating cash flows.
b. cash basis earnings than realized operating cash flows.
c. realized operating cash flows than accrual earnings.
d. future operating cash flows than accrual earnings.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
26. The reciprocal of the risk-adjusted equity cost of capital used to discount future earnings is
the
a. return on assets.
b. return on common equity.
c. price/earnings ratio.
d. profit margin on sales.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
27. If a company currently earns $5.00 per share, and has a risk-adjusted equity cost of capital of
9%, a share of common stock should theoretically sell for approximately
a. $0.45
b. $5.00

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McGraw-Hill Education.
c. $48.00
d. $55.55
Answer: d
Feedback: The earnings multiple is 1 ÷ 0.09 = 11.11. $5.00 x 11.11 = $55.55.
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
28. If a company currently earns $6.00 per share and has a risk-adjusted equity cost of capital of
12.5%, a share of common stock should theoretically sell for
a. $0.75
b. $6.00
c. $48.00
d. $75.75
Answer: c
Feedback: The earnings multiple is 1 ÷ 0.125 = 8. $6.00 x 8 = $48.00
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
29. If most firms’ price/earnings ratios are between 10 and 15, what is the range of the risk-
adjusted interest rate?
a. 6.67% to 10%
b. 6.67% to 15%
c. 10% to 15%
d. 10% to 16.67%
Answer: a
Feedback: P/E = 1 ÷ r; 10 =1 ÷ r; r = 1 ÷ 10; r = 10%. 15 = 1 ÷ r; r = 1 ÷ 15; r = 6.67%
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
30. Risky firms have a higher risk-adjusted cost of capital. Which one of the following factors
would contribute to a risky firm also having a relatively high price/earnings ratio?
a. The firm has a high earnings per share.
b. The firm has a low earnings per share.
c. The firm has strong growth opportunities.
d. The firm has a significant amount of long-term debt.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
31. To obtain a better current price, the net present value of future growth opportunities
(NPVGO) can be calculated and
a. added to the price per share calculated from the P/E ratio.
b. subtracted from the price per share calculated from the P/E ratio.
c. multiplied by the price per share calculated from the P/E ratio.
d. divided into the price per share calculated from the P/E ratio.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
32. The net present value of future growth opportunities (NPVGO) will contribute to an above
average P/E multiple when the additional share value created is
a. positive and the return on new investment is lower than the cost of equity capital.
b. positive and the return on new investment is greater than the cost of equity capital.
c. negative and the return on new investment is lower than the cost of equity capital.
d. negative and the return on new investment is greater than the cost of equity capital.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-04

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
33. In general, the growth rate in earnings will depend on the portion of earnings reinvested each
period and
a. the earnings retention rate.
b. the rate of return earned on new investment.
c. the firm’s cost of equity capital.
d. the firm’s weighted average cost of capital.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
34. A component that is valuation-relevant, but is not expected to persist into the future is a
a. permanent earnings component.
b. transitory earnings component.
c. noise component.
d. quiet component.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
35. Income from continuing operations, excluding special or nonrecurring items, is generally
regarded as
a. permanent earnings.
b. transitory earnings.
c. value-irrelevant earnings.

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McGraw-Hill Education.
d. abnormal earnings.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
36. Income or loss from discontinued operations is regarded as
a. permanent earnings.
b. transitory earnings.
c. value-irrelevant earnings.
d. abnormal earnings.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
37. An adjustment to income due to a non-recurring item is regarded as
a. permanent earnings.
b transitory earnings.
c. value-irrelevant earnings.
d. abnormal earnings.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

Use the following to answer questions 38 – 43:


REFERENCE: Ref. 06_01
Firm A Firm B Firm C
Reported EPS $12 $15 $18
Analyst’s EPS composition:

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Permanent component (βP = 5) 80% 60% 75%
Transitory component (βT = 1) 10% 35% 25%
Value-irrelevant component (β0 = 0) 10% 5% 0%

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_01
38. The implied share price of Firm A’s stock is
a. $12.00
b. $48.00
c. $49.20
d. $54.40
Answer: c
Feedback:
Permanent 0.80 × $12 = $9.60 × 5 = $48.00
Transitory 0.10 × $12 = $1.20 × 1 = 1.20
Value-irrelevant 0.10 × $12 = $1.20 × 0 = 0.00
Implied share price $49.20
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_01
39. The implied share price of Firm B’s stock is
a. $15.00
b. $45.00
c. $50.25
d. $55.25
Answer: c
Feedback:
Permanent .60 × $15 = $9.00 × 5 = $45.00
Transitory .35 × $15 = $5.25 × 1 = 5.25
Value-irrelevant .05 × $15 = $0.75 × 0 = 0.00
Implied share price $50.25
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_01
40. The implied share price of Firm C’s stock is
a. $18.00
b. $63.00
c. $72.00
d. $90.00
Answer: c
Feedback:
Permanent .75 × $18 = $13.50 × 5 = $67.50
Transitory .25 × $18 = $ 4.50 × 1 = 4.50
Value-irrelevant .00 × $18 = $ 0.00 × 0 = 0.00
Implied share price $72.00
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_01
41. The implied total earnings multiple of Firm A is
a. 1.00.
b. 4.10.
c. 5.00.
d. 10.00
Answer: b
Feedback: Implied earnings multiple = Implied share price ÷ Reported EPS = $49.20 ÷ $12.00 =
4.1
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_01
42. The implied total earnings multiple of Firm B is
a. 1.00.
b. 3.00.

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McGraw-Hill Education.
c. 3.35.
d. 12.00
Answer: c
Feedback: Implied earnings multiple = Implied share price ÷ Reported EPS = $50.25 ÷ $15.00 =
3.35
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_01
43. The implied total earnings multiple of Firm C is
a. 1.00.
b. 3.75.
c. 4.00.
d. 15.00
Answer: c
Feedback: Implied earnings multiple = Implied share price ÷ Reported EPS = $72.00 ÷ $18.00 =
4.00
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
44. Reported earnings numbers often contain three distinctly different components possibly
subject to different earnings capitalization rates. Which of the following is not one of these
components?
a. A permanent earnings component.
b. A transitory earnings component.
c. A restructured earnings component.
d. A value-irrelevant earnings component.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
45. Which one of the following is an example of sustainable earnings?
a. Loss from debt retirement.
b. Expenditures for advertising.
c. Earnings from repeat customers.
d. Gain from corporate restructuring.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
46. As transitory components become a more important part of a firm’s reported earnings, the
reported earnings
a. become a more reliable indicator of sustainable cash flows.
b. are more quality enhanced.
c. are a more reliable indicator of fundamental value.
d. are a less reliable indicator of sustainable cash flows.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
47. The assessment of earnings quality to calculate an implied share price is best accomplished
using which of the following?
a. Single-step financial statement.
b. Multiple-step income statement.
c. Cash flow statement.
d. Single-step income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-04

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
48. As transitory or value-irrelevant components become a larger part of a firm’s reported
earnings, which of the following effects would you not expect to witness?
a. The quality of those reported earnings is eroded.
b. The firm’s stock price rises in the year such components are reported proportionate to their
impact on income.
c. Reported earnings become a less reliable indicator of the company’s long-run sustainable cash
flows.
d. Earnings are a less reliable indicator of the firm’s fundamental value.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
49. Under the abnormal earnings approach of equity valuation, investors willingly pay a
premium for those firms that
a. earn less than the cost of equity capital.
b. produce negative abnormal earnings.
c. produce positive abnormal earnings.
d. earn an amount equal to the equity cost of capital.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
50. One popular approach to estimating the equity cost of capital is
a. the asset pricing model (APM).
b. the equity costing model (ECM).

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McGraw-Hill Education.
c. the cost of equity pricing model (CEPM).
d. the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Free cash flow model

[QUESTION]
51 When calculating forecasted cash flows available to common stockholders (CF) under the
flows to equity model,
a. cash interest payments and preferred dividends are added.
b. preferred dividends are added.
c. cash interest payments, debt repayments, and preferred dividends are subtracted.
d. cash interest payments, debt repayments, and preferred dividends are not included.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Flows to equity model

[QUESTION]
52. The expected abnormal earnings of a firm that has earnings of $40,000 with a required equity
cost of capital of 8% and a beginning book value of $800,000 is
a. $(24,000)
b. $(64,000)
c. $40,000
d. $104,000
Answer: a
Feedback: Abnormal earnings = Earnings – (required equity cost of capital × beginning book
value) = $40,000 – (0.08 × $800,000) = $(24,000)
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Use the following to answer questions 53 – 57:
REFERENCE: Ref. 06_02
Firm A Firm B Firm C
Actual earnings $6,000 $14,000 $18,000
r 10% 8% 12%
BVt-1 $100,000 $150,000 $190,000

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_02
53. What are the abnormal earnings for Firm A?
a. $(4,000)
b. $(6,000)
c. $4,000
d. $6,000
Answer: a
Feedback: Abnormal earnings = Actual earnings – (equity cost of capital × beginning book value)
= $6,000 – (0.10 × $100,000) = $(4,000)
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_02
54. What are the abnormal earnings for Firm B?
a. $1,000
b. $2,000
c. $12,000
d. $14,000
Answer: b
Feedback: Abnormal earnings = Actual earnings – (equity cost of capital × beginning book value)
= $14,000 – (0.08 × $150,000) = $2,000
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_02
55. What are the abnormal earnings for Firm C?
a. $(2,400)
b. $(4,800)
c. $4,800
d. $9,600
Answer: b
Feedback: Abnormal earnings = Actual earnings – (equity cost of capital × beginning book value)
= $18,000 – (0.12 × $190,000) = $(4,800)
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Apply
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_02
56. Assume that Firm A can increase earnings $4,000 by cutting costs. Abnormal earnings would
be
a. $(1,000)
b. $0
c. $1,000
d. $1,500
Answer: b
Feedback: Abnormal earnings = Expected earnings – (equity cost of capital × beginning book
value) = ($6,000 + $4,000) – (0.10 × $100,000) = $0
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Knowledge Application
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
REFER TO: Ref. 06_02
57. Assume that at the beginning of the year, Firm B divested itself of $20,000 of unproductive
capital and earnings for the year fell by only $3,000. Abnormal earnings are
a. $200
b. $400
c. $600

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McGraw-Hill Education.
d. $800
Answer: c
Feedback: Abnormal earnings = Expected earnings – (equity cost of capital × beginning book
value) = ($14,000 – $3,000) – (0.08 × ($150,000 – $20,000)) = $600
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
58. A company with a return on equity that consistently exceeds the industry average ROCE will
generally have shares that sell at a
a. market-to-book ratio equal to the industry average.
b. lower market-to-book ratio than the industry average.
c. higher market-to-book ratio than the industry average.
d. higher market price than its competitors.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
59. Per U.S. GAAP, fair value for accounting purposes is
a. an entry price.
b. an exit price.
c. the market price in a forced sale.
d. always easily determinable.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-03
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms Understand
Topic: Fair value measurements

[QUESTION]

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McGraw-Hill Education.
60. Carrying amounts in a GAAP balance sheet are measured using all the following except
a. historical cost.
b. net realizable value.
c. discounted present value.
d. projected ROI.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-03
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Fair value measurements

[QUESTION]
61. In the process of determining fair value, the exit price refers to
a. the amount the firm would receive if it sold a given asset.
b. the amount the firm would pay if it bought an asset of the same type and condition as the one
being valued.
c. the sum of the future cash flows expected to be generated by continuing to use the asset.
d. the expected sale price of the stock in a corporate buy-out.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-03
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Fair value measurements

[QUESTION]
62. When determining the fair value of an asset using an exit price approach,
a. fair value is determined by how the company uses the asset.
b. management may choose to reduce the fair value of the asset by the approximate amount of
expected transaction costs (i.e., costs to dispose of the asset) if such costs are deemed to be
material.
c. transaction costs do not reduce the asset’s fair value.
d. transaction costs reduce the asset’s fair value.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-03
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Fair value measurements

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
63. Prior to the announcement of unexpected bad earnings (a negative earnings surprise), a firm’s
stock price will generally exhibit
a. a negative drift downward.
b. no change in stock price.
c. a negative drift downward followed by an immediate upward drift.
d. a positive drift upward.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-06
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Stock returns and earnings surprises

[QUESTION]
64. An earnings surprise
a. usually precedes a negative drift downward in a firm’s stock price.
b. means that some bias must exist since unbiased means that the market’s earnings expectations
will be correct.
c. demonstrates the inherent inefficiency of securities markets.
d. occurs when earnings deviate from investors’ expectations.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-06
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Stock returns and earnings surprises

[QUESTION]
65. The fact that a firm’s stock price does not change when earnings are announced indicates that
a. per share earnings were the same as the previous quarter.
b. the securities markets are rational and efficient.
c. the information contained in the earnings release was fully anticipated by investors.
d. the earnings deviate from investors’ expectations.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-06
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Stock returns and earnings surprises

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
66. The interest rate on a revolving loan will usually
a. be below the prime interest rate.
b. be equal to the prime interest rate.
c. remain fixed.
d. float.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Types of lending

[QUESTION]
67. Short-term notes sold directly to investors by large, highly rated companies are called
a. commercial paper.
b. secured notes.
c. bonds.
d. debentures.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Types of lending

[QUESTION]
68. A bond that is considered unsecured is referred to as a
a. debenture.
b. sinking fund bond.
c. senior bond.
d. callable bond.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Types of lending

[QUESTION]

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
69. A qualitative assessment of the business, its customers and suppliers, and management’s
character and capability is known as
a. covenant waivers.
b. due diligence.
c. indenture evaluation.
d. a debenture.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty:1 Easy
AACSB: Ethics
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Credit ratings―Analysis

[QUESTION]
70. The degree to which cash needs can be satisfied during periods of fiscal stress is known as
a. credit availability.
b. credit worthiness.
c. working capital.
d. financial flexibility.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Credit ratings―Analysis

[QUESTION]
71. The two ways to implement the discounted cash flow valuation approach are
a. CAPM and the weighted average cost of capital.
b. the free cash flow model and the flows to equity model.
c. the price/earnings model and the cash flows model.
d. the weighted cash flows model and the capital assets model.
Ans b
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Approach to valuation

[QUESTION]

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McGraw-Hill Education.
72. The interest rate charged on bank loans must be sufficient to cover all the following except
a. a risk premium when loans are personally guaranteed by the borrower.
b. the lender’s cost of borrowing funds.
c. the costs of administering, monitoring, and servicing the loan.
d. a premium for exposure to default risk.
Ans a
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN: Risk Analysis
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Credit ratings―Analysis

[QUESTION]
73. Financial statement forecasts are
a. one of the required note disclosures found in each company’s annual report.
b. filed annually with the SEC by all public companies.
c. frequently used in determining management compensation.
d. essential ingredients of business valuation and credit risk analysis.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-08
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Appendix B―Forecasts of financial statements

[QUESTION]
74. Preparing comprehensive financial statement forecasts involves six steps. Among these steps
are all the following except:
a. Forecast sales revenue for each period in the forecast horizon.
b. Forecast depreciation expense and tax expense for each period.
c. Forecast the company’s financial structure and dividend policy for each period.
d. Forecast the market price per share for the company’s common stock for each period.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-08
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Appendix B―Forecasts of financial statements

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
75. Which of the following statements is false regarding the global vantage point of fair value
measurement?
a. The FASB revised ASC 820-10 to make the U.S. fair value disclosure rules more consistent
with IFRS.
b. IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement” is not in agreement with U.S. GAAP.
c. ASC Topic 820 provides fair value guidance for companies, investors, and company auditors.
d. The FASB and the IASB worked together on a joint convergence project for fair value
measurement and disclosure.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-03
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Diversity
AICPA: BB Global
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Fair value measurements

[QUESTION]
76. Common value-relevant attributes for determining the value of a company include all the
following except:
a. Fair value of fixed assets.
b. Balance sheet book values.
c. Accounting earnings.
d. Free cash flows.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation

[QUESTION]
77. Which of the following statements is false regarding the flows to equity model?
a. The forecasted cash flow stream to be discounted is reduced by flows to preferred
shareholders.
b. The flows are reduced by cash interest payments.
c. The flows are increased by debt repayments.
d. The flows calculation begins with free cash flow.
Answer: c

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Remember
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Flows to equity model

[QUESTION]
78. Which of the following statements is false regarding the FASB’S view on valuation?
a. The FASB believes that current cash flows are more useful than current accrual accounting
earnings in predicting future cash flows.
b. The FASB contends that users pay attention to a firm’s accounting earnings because this
measure improves their ability to forecast future cash flows.
c. The FASB believes that a reliable valuation needs to rely on more than an analysis of cash
receipts and payments during a certain period.
d. The FASB stresses that the primary objective of financial reporting is to provide useful
information to investors and creditors in assessing the amount, timing, and uncertainty of future
net cash flows.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
79. Which of the following statements is false regarding the abnormal earnings approach to
valuation?
a. The method uses earnings and equity book value numbers as direct inputs in the valuation
process.
b. The method uses the cost of capital as a fundamental economic benchmark.
c. This approach produces results that are generally equivalent to the free cash flow model.
d. This approach is based on the notion that the value of a company is driven primarily by the
level of earnings.
Answer: d
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

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McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
80. Which of the following statements is false regarding credit risk analysis?
a. A comprehensive credit risk analysis involves evaluating and summarizing the various
individual risks associated with a loan.
b. Credit risk is not affected by the aggressive application of accounting standards since cash
flows are not impacted by financial reporting choices.
c. A simple alternative to credit risk analysis is to rely on credit reports issued by third parties.
d. Certain financial statement ratios are very useful in predicting loan default.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Credit ratings―Analysis

[QUESTION]
81. Which of the following statements is false regarding credit risk analysis?
a. A lender is protected against credit risks by a loan’s covenant provisions since the interest rate
is fixed by the Federal Reserve Bank.
b. High-quality financial statements help a credit analyst to see the true performance at a
company.
c. Greater default risk is determined to exist when there is significant organizational reliance on a
certain individual or customer.
d. An estimate of a firm’s future financial condition is very important to most lending decisions.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Credit ratings―Analysis

[QUESTION]
82. Which of the following statements is false regarding traditional lending products?
a. A term lending agreement has an original maturity of more than one year with maturities
ranging from two to five years being the most common.
b. The written agreement between the between the borrowing company and its lenders is referred
to as the indenture.
c. A bond that has collateral to protect the bondholder is referred to as a debenture bond.
d. A call provision allows the borrowing company to repurchase part or all the debt at a stated
price over a specific period.

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Types of lending

[QUESTION]
83. Which of the following statements is false regarding the business valuation process?
a. Credit valuation involves estimating the worth of a company, one of its operating units, or its
ownership shares.
b. Business valuation involves estimating the intrinsic value of a company or one of its operating
units.
c. Fundamental valuation uses basic accounting measures to assess the amount, timing, and
uncertainty of a firm’s future operating cash flows or earnings.
d. Operating cash flow minus cash outlays to replace operating capacity represents free cash
flow.
Answer: a
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation

[QUESTION]
84. Which of the following statements is false regarding the business valuation process?
a. If a company is currently generating a sustainable free cash flow of $10 per share and the
discount rate is 10%, the estimated share price is $100.
b. FASB contends that current accrual earnings are a proxy for free cash flow.
c. A simplified version of the discounted free cash flow valuation model assumes a zero-growth
perpetuity for future cash flows. This approach is best applied to growth companies with stable
cash flow patterns.
d. One popular approach to estimate a firm’s equity cost of capital is the capital asset pricing
model.
Answer: c
Learning Objective: 06-01
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Free cash flow model
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation

[QUESTION]
85. Which of the following statements is false regarding the business valuation process?
a. Income or loss from discontinued operations is considered a transitory component of a firm’s
earnings.
b. Forecasting future cash flows requires calculations using factors from future value tables.
c. A component of earnings that is unrelated to future free cash flows or future earnings and is
not pertinent to assessing current share price is considered a noise component.
d. Firms that earn less than the cost of equity capital produce negative abnormal earnings and
generally have a share price below book value.
Answer: b
Learning Objective: 06-01
Learning Objective: 06-02
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

Essay and Computational Questions

[QUESTION]
86. Briefly define “free cash flows” and describe the key features of the free cash flow model for
business valuation.

Answer: Free cash flow is operating cash flow minus cash outlays for operating capacity such as
buildings, equipment, and furnishings. A company’s free cash flow consequently represents the
amount available to finance planned expansion of operating capacity, reduce debt, pay dividends
or repurchase stock. Under the free cash flow model for business valuation, the value of a firm’s
stock and debt at a certain time is equal to the sum of the future stream of expected free cash
flow discounted back to the present at the firm’s weighted-average cost of capital. In summary,
the free cash flow model expresses today’s intrinsic value as a function of investors’ current

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McGraw-Hill Education.
expectations of the firm’s future economic prospects as measured by its expected future free cash
flows.
Learning Objective: 06-01
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Free cash flow model

[QUESTION]
87. Describe the general role of accounting numbers in business valuation.

Answer: Business valuation involves estimating the worth of a company, one of its operating
units or its ownership shares. Some equity valuation models are based on discounting a firm’s
future earnings or free cash flows. In such settings, the role of accounting numbers (i.e., the
information disclosed in financial statements) is to aid in the development of forecasts of the
firm’s future earnings and cash flows. These forecasts are then discounted at the firm’s risk-
adjusted cost of equity capital to arrive at an estimate of the equity’s value. The book value from
the balance sheet of the firm is used for the abnormal earnings approach to valuation.
Components of the income statement are categorized for calculating an implied share price of the
business. Earnings per share is used for calculating an implied earnings multiple to use in
assessing earnings quality and comparing one company to another.
Learning Objective: 06-01
Learning Objective: 06-02
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Basic steps in business valuation
Topic: Discounted cash flow―Approach to valuation
Topic: Earnings―Role in valuation
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
88. P/E ratios are a useful indicator and tool when performing valuation and comparing firms. List
three factors that should be considered or adjusted for when comparing P/E ratios among different
firms.

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McGraw-Hill Education.
Answer: Possible answers include risk differences, growth opportunities, earnings components
(valuation irrelevant, permanent, and transitory) as well as differences in accounting policies.
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
89. What is meant by sustainable earnings?

Answer: Sustainable earnings comprise the component of earnings that is valuation-relevant and
is expected to persist into the future. The sustainable component of a company’s earnings is
represented by recurring income from continuing operations and would fall into the permanent
earnings category for valuation. Earnings generated from repeat customers or from a high-quality
product that enjoys steady customer demand are examples of drivers behind sustainable earnings.
Learning Objective: 06-04
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Measurement
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
90. Briefly discuss how a firm’s P/E ratio is related to the firm’s choice of accounting methods,
estimates, and timing of discretionary expenditures.

Answer: The denominator of the P/E ratio is earnings and so the lower the earnings, the greater
the P/E ratio. Firms that use conservative accounting methods and recognize lower net income
(i.e., those that tend to recognize expenses sooner rather than later or recognize revenues later
rather than sooner) will generally report lower earnings. Conversely, firms that use aggressive
accounting methods (i.e., those that tend to recognize expenses later rather than sooner and
revenues sooner rather than later) tend to report higher earnings. Thus, choice of accounting
methods such as for inventory and for depreciation, and for estimates of uncollectibles, and
timing of discretionary expenses and can affect net income and thus the P/E ratio.

Learning Objective: 06-05


Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Communication

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Decision-Making
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Evaluate
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
91. Briefly discuss how a firm’s P/E ratio is related to the present value of growth opportunities
available to the firm.

Answer: Price-earnings ratios are positively related to the present value of a firm’s growth
opportunities. The market values the firm’s potential earnings from reinvesting current earnings
in new projects that will eventually earn a rate of return in excess of the firm’s cost of equity
capital. The net present value of growth opportunities (NPVGO) adds a positive increment to the
firm’s stock price which results in higher P/E multiples. Consequently, as growth opportunities
increase, so do P/E ratios. The firm’s stock value is a function of the present value of earnings
from assets in place in addition to the firm’s future growth opportunities. Thus, firms with little
or no current earnings may still have very high P/E ratios because they have substantial future
growth opportunities. Examples include companies in the biotechnology, computer software and
computer hardware industries.
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: BB Resource Management
AICPA: FN Risk Analysis
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
92. Recent values of P0 (current stock price), X0 (current reported EPS), and r (equity cost of
capital) for Alpha Company follow:

P0 X0 r
$23.50 $1.47 0.150

Required:
Compute Alpha’s NPVGO (net present value of future growth opportunities).

Answer: To find the NPVGO for Alpha Company, solve the following equation:

X0 X0
P0 = + NPVGO Rearranging terms yields: P0 - = NPVGO = $23.50 − ($1.47 ÷ 0.15) =
r r
$13.70 NPVGO

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Variation factors

[QUESTION]
93. One measure for determining expected earnings for the current quarter could be considering
earnings for the same quarter last year. List some of the disadvantages to using this measure.

Answer: Some disadvantages include: this measure (a) does not consider non-recurring items
that were included in previous corresponding period earnings, and (b) does not consider new
information and events that occurred after the previous corresponding period.
Learning Objective: 06-04
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Price/Earnings multiples―Components of earnings

[QUESTION]
94. List some possible techniques that management can use to improve a company’s reported
performance in the short run.

Answer: Management can improve reported earnings in the short-term by:


(a.) Changing accounting methods.
(b.) Adjusting expense estimates (e.g., increasing estimated useful lives of fixed assets or
reducing bad debt or warranty expense estimates).
(c.) Altering the timing of revenue or expense recognition (i.e., shifting revenues or expenses
from one period to the next).
(d.) Initiating business transactions that produce one-time gains or losses; e.g., sell real estate.
(e.) Reducing or eliminating expenditures for advertising, R&D, etc.
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
95. Give at least three examples of low-quality earnings items.

Answer: Examples of low-quality earnings items include:


(a.) One-time gains and losses from asset sales.
(b.) Liberal accounting choices that increase short-term profits.
(c.) Changes in discretionary expenditures for R&D, advertising, and maintenance.
(d.) Illusory profits from LIFO liquidations.
(e.) Changes in accounting estimates.
Feedback: A variety of other examples could be listed here.
Learning Objective: 06-05
Difficulty: 1 Easy
AACSB: Reflective Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Quality of earnings

[QUESTION]
96. Below is data for calendar 2018 for two companies.
Company A Company B
Actual earnings $79,632 $176,341
BVt-1 $504,000 $943,000
Cost of equity capital 0.167 0.175

Required:
Calculate each firm’s abnormal earnings and indicate which firm was better managed during
calendar year 2018.

Answer:
Company A Company B
Actual earnings $79,632 $176,341
BVt-1 504,000 943,000
Cost of equity capital 0.167 0.175
Return on capital 0.158 0.187
Expected earnings 84,168 165,025
Abnormal earnings $(4,536) $11,316

Company B created value by generating positive abnormal earnings while Company A eroded
value due to negative abnormal earnings. Consequently, Company B was the better managed of
the two companies for 2018.
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Blooms: Analyze
Blooms: Evaluate
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
97. Briefly define “abnormal earnings” and describe the key features of the abnormal earnings
approach to valuation.

Answer: Abnormal earnings is the difference between actual earnings for the period
and stockholders’ required dollar return on invested capital for the period. Investors willingly
pay a premium only for the stocks of firms that earn more than their cost of equity capital (i.e.,
firms that earn positive abnormal earnings). Conversely, investors will generally pay less than
book value for firms that earn negative abnormal earnings. As described in the text, the abnormal
earnings valuation model is: Price of equity at time 0 = Book value of equity at time 0 + Present
value of expected abnormal earnings in all future periods. The discount rate that is applied to the
future abnormal earnings is the cost of equity capital.
Learning Objective: 06-02
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: FN Measurement
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Earnings―Abnormal earnings approach

[QUESTION]
98. Why do the stock returns of firms reporting “good news” drift upwards before the earnings
announcement date?

Answer: “Good news” firms are those that report earnings better than expected when they
actually announce their earnings and these are firms that are performing well during the quarter
leading up to the earnings announcement date. One possible reason for the upward drift during
the quarter is that accounting earnings announced at the end of the quarter is not the sole source
of value-relevant information about the firm. During the quarter, other information will generally
become available to indicate that the firm is doing better than previously expected.
Consequently, investors can anticipate good earnings from the firm and will tend to buy more of
their stock which will lead to an increase in the stock price of the firm. This good performance is
then confirmed at the end of the quarter when the firm reports earnings greater than expected at
the beginning of the quarter.
Learning Objective: 06-06
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Stock returns and earnings surprises

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
[QUESTION]
99. Briefly define an earnings surprise and explain how the surprise can impact the value of a
firm’s equity.

Answer: An earnings surprise occurs when new information is conveyed to investors at the time
of a firm’s quarterly or annual earnings announcement. An earnings surprise occurs when a
firm’s reported earnings are different from what the market was expecting the firm to report.
Investors use earnings surprises to revise their expectations of the firm’s future earnings and cash
flow prospects. The stock price change will generally be positive when the earnings surprise is
“good news” (i.e., reported earnings exceed what the market had expected). The stock price
change will generally be negative when the earnings surprise is “bad news” (i.e., reported
earnings are less than what the market had expected).
Learning Objective: 06-06
Difficulty: 2 Medium
AACSB: Communication
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Understand
Topic: Stock returns and earnings surprises

[QUESTION]
100. The quarterly cash flows from operations for two technology companies are as follows:
2018 2019
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
Firm 1 $451.2 $220.8 $703.5 $475.5 $601.2
Firm 2 $165.9 $240.7 $698.8 $(91.8) $(173.3)

Required:
Explain why Firm 2 has more credit risk than Firm 1.

Answer: The quarterly operating cash flows of both firms fluctuate seasonally, i.e., operating
cash flow levels change from quarter to quarter and the changes are not all positive. Seasonal
patterns in sales and operating cash flow are common in many industries, and the cash flow
volatility produced by seasonal sales is one of the contributors to increased credit risk. In
addition, Firm 2’s operating cash flows are lower than those of Firm 1 and are negative in the
two most recent quarters. These two features of Firm 2’s operating cash flow make it a greater
credit risk than Firm 1.
Learning Objective: 06-07
Difficulty: 3 Hard
AACSB: Analytical Thinking
AICPA: BB Critical Thinking
Blooms: Analyze
Topic: Credit risk assessment―Credit ratings―Analysis

Copyright © 2018 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
Onder den invloed van het middel, hetwelk Raffles hem had
ingegeven, voelde Beaupré zijn krachten snel terugkeeren, en hij was
in staat, alleen uit de auto te stappen zonder hulp.

Zoodra de deur achter de drie mannen was dichtgevallen, reed


Henderson met de auto vliegensvlug weder weg, nadat Raffles
fluisterend eenige woorden met hem gewisseld had.

Nauwelijks was de voordeur geopend, of achter in de vestibule vloog


een deur open. Marthe Debussy verscheen.

Ondanks het nachtelijk uur was zij geheel gekleed, daar zij toch niet
had kunnen slapen, nu het om de bevrijding van haar minnaar ging.

Zij deed wankelend een paar schreden vooruit, slaakte een lichten
kreet en wierp zich aan de borst van den markies.

Raffles en Charly trokken zich bescheiden terug, teneinde het


wederzien tusschen de geliefden niet te storen.

Maar na vijf minuten keerden zij terug, en Raffles sprak glimlachend:

—Het spijt mij dat wij u moeten lastig vallen, maar gij zult nu tot de
werkelijkheid moeten terugkeeren, en die gebiedt, markies, dat gij u
in de eerste plaats van kleederen voorziet en u vervolgens gereed
maakt om dit land te verlaten.

—Verlaten? herhaalde Beaupré verbaasd, zonder dat ik mij nog op


Fox gewroken heb?

—Dat kunt gij later doen! hernam Raffles ernstig, thans moet gij u in
veiligheid brengen, want hier is de politie op het spoor gebracht. Uw
signalement zonder baard is reeds naar alle havens bekend en naar
alle steden gezonden en gij zoudt zeker geen volle week op vrije
voeten zijn, en ga nu spoedig mede, dat gij u in de kleederen kunt
steken, dan zullen wij ons vereenigen aan een maaltijd, die uwe
krachten geheel zal herstellen [14]en wij zullen onder het eten eens
praten over uwe kansen om ongemerkt te ontkomen.

Raffles had Beaupré bij den arm genomen en duwde hem in een
vertrek waar een compleet costuum en een goede reispels, het
noodige ondergoed en een paar sterke laarzen reeds gereed lagen.

Beaupré kleedde zich snel aan, en juist toen hij klaar was trad Charly
binnen, en verzocht den Franschman hem te willen volgen.

Een oogenblik later trad Beaupré een ander vertrek binnen, en hij
bleef verrast op den drempel staan, want op de tafel was een
voortreffelijke maaltijd aangericht.

—Dat is het werk van mijn jongen vriend, zeide Raffles glimlachend,
die reeds met Marthe Debussy aan den disch had plaats genomen,
en in een levendig gesprek met hem was gewikkeld.

De wimpers van de jonge vrouw waren vochtig en het was duidelijk te


zien dat zij zooeven geweend had, van geluk en van dankbaarheid.

[Inhoud]
HOOFDSTUK IV.
Naar Parijs!

Beaupré trad langzaam binnen, nam tegenover Raffles plaats, en


zeide op ernstigen toon, terwijl hij den Grooten Onbekende vast
aankeek:

—Niemand kan zeggen, John Raffles, wat er met ons beiden nog zal
gebeuren, maar wat er ook moge geschieden, onder welke
omstandigheden wij ook tegenover elkander zullen komen te staan, ik
zal dit nimmer vergeten! Ik heb vele slechte eigenschappen, maar
daaronder behoort gelukkig niet de ondankbaarheid. Ik weet niet of
gij op mijn dankbetuigingen wel gesteld zijt, en daarom eindig ik met
dit woord: Als gij ooit in gevaar verkeert, en ik ben ter plaatse, dan zal
ik u helpen zooals gij mij vannacht geholpen hebt.

—Dat aanvaard ik, markies! hernam Raffles eenvoudig, en laat ons


nu niet meer over deze zaak spreken, maar ons liever tot den
maaltijd bepalen, waaraan mijn vriend zooveel zorg heeft besteed, en
eens over het verdere deel van uw vlucht praten, want het moet mij
van het hart dat gij nog lang niet in veiligheid zijt!

Allen hadden nu plaats genomen, waarop Raffles vervolgde:

—Ik zou u natuurlijk in dit huis kunnen laten wonen, zoolang als gij
dat zelf noodig zoudt achten, gij zoudt er dan geen stap buiten
kunnen doen zonder vrees voor ontdekking, evenmin als uw vriendin.
Ik zou u een grooten voorraad verduurzaamde levensmiddelen
kunnen toezenden, maar dit zou toch geen bestaan voor u beiden
zijn, niet waar? Gij zijt aan een vrij leven gewend en bovendien, het
zou slechts uitstel van [15]executie zijn, want ik herhaal het: De politie
heeft oogen en ooren wijd open gezet en zal u spoedig genoeg
achterhaald hebben, zoodra gij dit huis zoudt hebben verlaten, waarin
gij als in een vesting opgesloten zou zijn.

—Gij hebt gelijk. Ik geloof niet dat ik dat zou uithouden, zeide
Beaupré, en toch kan ik mij niet verzoenen met het denkbeeld
Engeland te verlaten zonder dat ik mij op Fox gewroken heb.

—Daartoe zal zich later de gelegenheid nog wel aanbieden, hernam


Raffles. Gij kunt dan terugkeeren, zoodra de lucht hier weer
eenigszins zuiver is, maar zeker niet binnen een jaar.

—Een jaar! maar dat is een eeuwigheid voor een man die naar wraak
dorst! riep de Franschman hartstochtelijk uit.

Raffles haalde even de schouders op en zeide:

—Gij zult u daar toch in moeten schikken, tenzij gij met geweld uw
vrijheid wilt offeren! Trouwens—ik ben zeker, dat men te Parijs zeer
naar uwe terugkomst verlangt! Ik kan mij uw heerschzucht begrijpen,
maar zij heeft u verlokt om hier langer te blijven dan wellicht goed is
met het oog op uw positie in de Fransche hoofdstad.

Na een oogenblik te hebben nagedacht, antwoordde Beaupré:

—Gij zult wel gelijk hebben—maar het is hard voor een man met
bloed in het lichaam, om zijn doodsvijand aldus den rug toe te
draaien!

—Slechts tijdelijk, markies—slechts tijdelijk! hernam Raffles. Er zal


een tijd komen, waarop gij hem weder tegemoet kunt treden. En dan
zou de beurt wel eens aan u kunnen zijn.

Marthe Debussy legde nu haar kleine witte hand op den arm van
Beaupré en zeide op smeekenden toon:
—Luister naar den raad van John Raffles—keer met mij naar Parijs
terug, Raoul.

—Je hebt goed praten, Marthe! riep Beaupré een weinig ongeduldig
uit. Ik ben nu, dank zij de tusschenkomst van onzen gastheer, gered
—maar ik ben nog steeds in Londen! Wanneer alle havens stevig
bewaakt worden, hoe kom ik dan aan de overzijde, waar men
bovendien ook wel gewaarschuwd zal zijn, zoodat ik daar in iedere
havenstad, waar ik aan wal zou stappen, dadelijk zou worden
gearresteerd?

—Maak u daaromtrent niet bezorgd, zeide Raffles op eigenaardigen


toon, terwijl er een zonderlinge glimlach om zijn lippen speelde. Ik
heb nog tijdens den rit in de auto een plan bedacht—en ik denk, dat
ik dat ten uitvoer zal brengen! Het is nu bijna vijf uur—over een half
uur zijt gij te Parijs!

Marthe Debussy wierp Raffles een blik vol ongeloof toe, en toen
zeide de jonge vrouw op zachten toon:

—Gij spot zeker?

—In het geheel niet!

—Maar dat is immers onmogelijk! riep Beaupré uit, terwijl hij Raffles
met de grootste verbazing aankeek. Zelfs de vlugste vliegmachine
heeft toch nog altijd vijf kwartier noodig om van Londen naar Parijs te
sturen!

—Ik blijf bij wat ik gezegd heb! hernam Raffles glimlachend.

—En mag men dan het wonderlijke vervoermiddel weten, waarmede


gij dit denkt te bereiken? riep Beaupré, ten toppunt van verbazing.
—Het doet mij leed, markies, maar daarop moet ik helaas weigeren
te antwoorden, zeide Raffles. Gij zult zelf wel inzien, dat er geheimen
zijn, welke ik zoolang mogelijk ongeschonden moet trachten te
bewaren.

De Franschman kneep de lippen opeen en wierp Raffles een


schuinschen blik toe, maar deze, die den blik had opgevangen,
hernam rustig, na zijn horloge te hebben geraadpleegd:

—Ik geloof, dat ik weet, markies, wat er op dit oogenblik in u omgaat!


Gij denkt bij u zelf dat ik u toch wel niet zal blinddoeken, en dat gij
dus mijn vervoermiddel wel te zien zult krijgen. Daarin hebt gij echter
slechts ten halve gelijk—ik zal u wel degelijk blinddoeken, al is het
dan niet met een doek, dien men zien en tasten kan!

—Wat wilt gij zeggen? stamelde Beaupré, terwijl hij met een vaag
gebaar de hand aan het hoofd bracht. Maar wat is er met mij? Ik ben
zoo duizelig … ik.…..

—Ik zie, dat mijn onschuldig middeltje reeds begint te werken, sprak
Raffles bedaard. Ik ben namelijk zoo vrij geweest, zonder dat gij
beiden er iets van gemerkt hebt, eens een weinig zeer fijn poeder op
den bodem van uw glas te storten. O, gij behoeft u volstrekt niet
ongerust te maken. Ik herhaal het: het is [16]een zeer onschuldig
middel, maar toch is het een blinddoek—gij zult niets zien en niets
hooren! Vergeef het mij, dat ik u beiden aldus belet, mijn geheimen te
doorvorschen—het ging niet anders! Het is nu vijf minuten over
vijven; om half zes zult gij weder ontwaken, te Parijs!

Nog terwijl Raffles sprak, neigde het hoofd van Marthe Debussy
zachtjes voorover, tot het de tafel bereikt had.

Beaupré daarentegen had de kleine toespraak in haar geheel


aangehoord.
Hij wilde iets zeggen,—een beweging maken—maar hij had er de
kracht reeds niet meer toe. Hij viel achterover in zijn stoel, slaakte
een diepen zucht en sloot de oogen, terwijl zijn armen slap langs zijn
lichaam neervielen.

Bijna op hetzelfde oogenblik liet zich buiten het huis een zwak geraas
hooren, dat klonk als het brommen van een luchtschroef.

—Henderson is juist op tijd! riep Raffles uit. Snel, Charly! help hem
aankleeden.

De twee vrienden ijlden het aangrenzend vertrek binnen, en kwamen


terug, met kleedingstukken beladen.

Met eenige moeite trekken zij Marthe Debussy en markies Beaupré


de dikke pelsen aan, sloegen hen een wollen bouffante om en drukte
hun de bontmutsen op het hoofd.

Vervolgens grepen zij de slappe, beweginglooze lichamen onder de


armen, en sleepten ze door het vertrek en de gang naar een
achterdeur van het huis.

Zooals reeds is medegedeeld, stond dit huis, dat nog pas een paar
weken geleden voltooid was, aan een nieuwe straat, de laatste van
deze wijk, en die nog lang niet was volgebouwd.

Aan de achterzijde van het huis strekte zich een zeer groot
onbebouwd terrein uit, hetwelk ongeveer een mijl noordelijker
overging in bouwland.

Er liep een smal klinkerpad langs den achtergevel, maar van een tuin
of iets dergelijks was niets te bespeuren.

De huizen ter linker en ter rechterzijde waren nog niet voltooid, en


zoo bleef het geheel onopgemerkt dat de deur van een dier huizen
openging en doorgang verleende aan twee in dikke jassen gehulde
mannen, die iets zwaars met zich medesleepten.

Juist terzelfdertijd streek een niet al te groote maar blijkbaar


buitengewoon snelle vliegmachine van eigenaardigen bouw, die zeer
veel aan een sierlijken libel deed denken, op nauwelijks twintig meter
afstands van die deur neder.

Zoodra het toestel stil stond, sprong er een man uit, die op het groep
kwam toesnellen.

Het was James Henderson, de trouwe reus!

Zonder een woord te spreken nam hij het lichaam van de vrouw op
en droeg het met het meeste gemak naar de stilstaande
vliegmachine, den „Duivel der Lucht”, het wonderbare toestel, dat
ontsproten was aan het vernuft van den Grooten Onbekende, en
hetwelk niet door een benzinemotor, maar door een electrisch
gedreven machine in beweging werd gebracht.

Raffles en Charly volgden met het lichaam van Beaupré, en binnen


eenige minuten waren allen aan boord.

Het bewustelooze paar wend achter in het gemakkelijk ingerichte


schuitje op een deken neergelegd en met een dikken plaid bedekt.

Raffles nam achter het stuurtoestel plaats, haalde een hefboom over,
de beide schroeven begonnen met razende snelheid te draaien en
bijna loodrecht schoot het verwonderlijke toestel pijlsnel in den
nachtelijken hemel omhoog.

Dadelijk zocht Raffles een groote hoogte op.

Weliswaar was het hier zeer koud, en de thermometer wees spoedig


twintig graden onder nul, maar nu kon men tenminste van de aarde af
niet opgemerkt worden.

Raffles volgde eenigen tijd den loop van de Theems en hield toen pal
in oostelijke richting aan.

Het was er hem om te doen, den weg naar Parijs zoo kort mogelijk te
maken—en de kortste weg is nog altijd de rechte lijn.

In rechte lijn gemeten, bedraagt de afstand van Londen naar Parijs


juist tweehonderd mijlen.

Maar was het dan mogelijk, dat Raffles waarheid had gesproken, en
dat de vliegmachine dezen grooten afstand in een half uur kon
afleggen?

Ja, dat was inderdaad mogelijk, want reeds vroeger had Raffles met
den „Duivel der Lucht” een snelheid [17]weten te behalen van
vijfhonderd drie-en-veertig kilometer per uur, dank zij den
geheimzinnigen motor, waarvan het geheim nog aan niemand
bekend was, behalve aan zijn twee trouwe metgezellen.

Raffles moest op het kompas sturen, maar dit was voor hem volstrekt
geen bezwaar, zelfs in de duisternis, want hij had dezen weg reeds
meermalen afgelegd en kende hem op zijn duimpje.

Binnen enkele minuten lag de wereldstad achter de reizigers, en


Raffles stuurde nu rechtaan op het belangrijke spoorwegkruispunt
Tunbridge Wells.

Hij herkende dit aan de uitstralingen van de talrijke lichten op en bij


het station en het spoorwegemplacement.

Raffles was zelfs geen tweehonderd meter van zijn rechten koers
afgeweken, want de lichten van het station bevonden zich bijna recht
onder de machine!
Nu was het zaak, op Hastings aan te houden, een belangrijke
Engelsche havenstad, maar die toch nog grooter bekendheid heeft
wegens den geweldigen veldslag, die hier in 1066 werd geleverd
tusschen Harold den Noorman en het leger van den Normandischen
Hertog Willem, die aldus den Engelschen koningskroon verwierf.

Het was nauwelijks veertien minuten over vijven, toen de „Duivel der
Lucht” op een hoogte van omstreeks 1800 meter boven de
havenplaats vloog en het Kanaal tegemoet zweefde, de overtocht
begon.

De eerstvolgende stad welke nu zou worden aangedaan, was


Tréport.

Weliswaar stak Raffles nu het Kanaal op zijn grootste breedte over,


maar dat deerde hem volstrekt niet, want binnen tien minuten zou die
overtocht volbracht zijn!

En Tréport lag nu eenmaal in de rechte lijn.

Raffles moest nu de machine vrij aanzienlijk laten dalen, teneinde uit


een dichte mistbank te geraken, en hij vloog op nauwelijks zestig
meter boven de golven, met een snelheid, die de vliegmachine een
geluid deed maken als een snaar van een reusachtigen contra-bas,
welke met kracht werd aangestreken.

De mistbank trok even plotseling weg als zij was komen opzetten,
juist toen de lichten van Tréport, een geliefkoosde Fransche
badplaats, in het gezicht kwamen.

Dadelijk schoot de „Duivel der Lucht” weder omhoog en vloog op een


hoogte van duizend meter ongeveer over de kleine stad.

Het was nog steeds zeer donker, maar toch begon de hemel zich in
het oosten lichter te tinten—het zou zeker een zeer schoone
herfstdag worden.

Onverpoosd zette de vliegmachine haar weg door het luchtruim voort


met een snelheid, welke het pasgevestigde Fransche record van 280
kilometer in het uur bijna met datzelfde cijfer overtrof!

Charly had nu en dan een blik achter zich geworpen, teneinde naar
de beide bewustelooze Franschen om te zien, maar zij hadden zich
nog in het geheel niet bewogen.

Wat Henderson betreft, deze had zich gedurende dien tijd steeds
bezig gehouden met de machine, teneinde haar zoo snel mogelijk te
laten loopen. Hij stelde er een eer in, dat zijn meester zijn belofte
gestand zou doen, en daarom verzorgde hij de kostbare machine als
zijn oogappel ofschoon zij dit eigenlijk volstrekt niet noodig had!

Om vijf minuten vóór half zes vloog de „Duivel der Lucht” met
razende snelheid oostwaarts van Neuchatel, en nog een vijf minuten
later bevond zij zich in de buurt van het kleine dorp Méru.

En plotseling hief Charly de hand op en wees naar een punt aan den
horizont.

Daar was het, alsof er een reusachtige boschbrand woedde—een


rossige gloed kleurde in het zuidoosten den hemel.

Die rossige gloed—dat was Parijs, dat was de Lichtstad!

Raffles raadpleegde zijn polshorloge.

Het was twee minuten over half zes. Hij had nog drie minuten om het
ideaal van zijn reis binnen den bepaalden tijd te bereiken.

Reeds zweefde de vliegmachine boven het bosch van St. Germain


en driemaal was zij reeds de Seine gepasseerd, die vlak bij Parijs
een zeer grillig verloop heeft en drie reusachtige lussen vormt van
eenige tientallen kilometers lengte.

Montesson werd voorbij gevlogen, onzichtbaar in de duisternis, een


halve minuut later Nanterre en juist om vijf minuten over half zes
streek de „Duivel der Lucht” neer op een kleine weide, even vóór de
eerste [18]huizen van de Parijsche voorstad Neuilly, aan een der
fraaiste gedeelten van de Seine gelegen.

Alles was hier nog in duisternis gehuld, en men kon de vormen


ternauwernood onderscheiden.

In het zuiden echter doemden de eerste boomen op van het Bois de


Boulogne. En men kon den weg, die naar de hoofdstad geleidde,
duidelijk onderscheiden.

Langs dien weg waren op geregelde afstanden banken geplaatst, en


markies Beaupré en Marthe Debussy werden zorgvuldig uit de
machine getild en naast elkander op een van die banken geplaatst.

Raffles haalde een klein doosje uit zijn zak, prachtig gesneden uit
een agaatsteen, en niet veel grooter dan een hazelnoot, en nam er
twee lichtgroen gekleurde pillen uit.

Hij opende achtereenvolgens de lippen van de beide bewusteloozen


en duwde hun ieder een der pillen in den mond.

Toen zeide hij fluisterend:

—Nu snel weg, Charly! Over een minuut hebben deze pillen
uitgewerkt en zullen deze beide menschen uit hun lethargie
ontwaken!

De twee vrienden ijlden naar de plek, waar Henderson bij de


vliegmachine de wacht hield, klommen in het schuitje en een paar
seconden later zweefde de „Duivel der Lucht” op aanzienlijke hoogte
boven het park van St. James, juist op het oogenblik, dat Beaupré en
zijn minnares tegelijkertijd ontwaakten, zich de oogen uitwreven en
zich afvroegen of zij soms droomden!

[Inhoud]
HOOFDSTUK V.
Koning Alfonso van Spanje.

Het was nu zaak, den terugweg te aanvaarden—tenminste aldus


dacht Charly Brand. Maar Raffles bleek andere plannen te hebben.

Tot niet geringe verwondering van den jongen man, liet Raffles de
machine een grooten boog beschrijven en zette koers naar Issy-les-
Moulineaux, waar zich het grootste vliegterrein van Frankrijk bevindt,
en waar ook de aero-club van Parijs haar groote loodsen heeft.

Vóór Charly nog goed begreep wat Raffles van plan was, had deze
den „Duivel der Lucht” in een onberispelijken zweef doen dalen, en
even later rolden de wielen over het grastapijt.

Het liep naar zessen, en men kon reeds tamelijk goed om zich heen
zien.

Op het vliegterrein bleken echter nog slechts een paar nachtwakers


aanwezig te zijn, die haastig met electrische lantaarns kwamen
toeloopen en niet weinig verbaasd waren de vliegmachine met haar
zonderlingen, nog onbekenden, vorm te ontwaren.

Henderson had nog tijdens de vlucht de machine [19]aan het oog


onttrokken door er een soort kap van staalplaat overeen te plaatsen,
die wel wat geleek op de houten kappen, waarmede men
schrijfmachines toedekt, en deze zorgvuldig gesloten, zoodat geen
onbevoegden een blik zoude kunnen slaan op het geheime
mechaniek.

Raffles wendde zich aanstonds tot de beide bewakers, drukte hun


een goede fooi in de hand, en zeide in vloeiend Fransch:
—Wij zijn Engelschen, vriend, en wij denken hier eenige dagen te
blijven! Zeg ons, wat wij te doen hebben om aan de douane-
formaliteiten te voldoen en of er hier plaats is tot stalling van onze
machine.

—Wat het laatste betreft, mijnheer, plaats is er in overvloed,


antwoordde een der bewakers. Wij zullen een loods voor uwe
machine reserveeren. Wat de douane-formaliteiten aangaat, zoo hebt
gij niets anders te doen dan uwe machine te laten aangeven bij den
douanepost aan het begin van het veld! Als gij geen bagage bij u
hebt, zal alles zeer gemakkelijk gaan!

—Zooveel te beter! antwoordde Raffles. Wij zullen u wel helpen met


het onderdak brengen van de machine.

En hierop duwden de vijf mannen het wonderbare vliegtuig zonder


moeite naar een van de loodsen, waarop de drie mannen zich naar
het kleine kantoor van den douanier begaven, die in zijn klein hokje
zat te dommelen, en met bijna gesloten oogen de noodige
formulieren invulde.

Eindelijk konden de drie reizigers het vliegterrein verlaten.

Een ondernemend Parijzenaar had een klein restaurant, uit planken


en gegolfd plaatijzer opgetrokken, dicht bij den ingang van het
vliegveld geplaatst, hetwelk ten zuid-westen van het ontzaglijke
manoeuvre-veld is gelegen en dat was voor de drie reizigers een
gunstige omstandigheid, want er zouden voorloopig nog wel geen
omnibussen rijden en zij hadden grooten trek in een kop warme
koffie.

Alleen de eigenaar van deze primitieve inrichting was op de been,


toen zij de gelagkamer binnentraden, en hield zich daar onledig met
pogingen om een kachel te doen branden, een werkje, waarin hij het
blijkbaar niet zeer ver gebracht had.

De goede man was tamelijk verwonderd, op dit vroege uur drie zulke
uitstekend gekleede vreemdelingen te zien verschijnen, maar hij was
dadelijk een en al gedienstigheid, en een kwartier later genoten de
drie Engelschen van een voortrekkelijken kop zwarte koffie, zooals
men die maar alleen te Parijs kan drinken.

Toen zij de eerste teugen van het kostelijke vocht gedronken hadden,
begon Charly:

—Ik wil niet ontkennen, Edward, dat ik mij hier uitstekend bevind, in
die goed verwarmde gelagkamer, met dezen kop voortreffelijke koffie
vóór mij—maar ik zou toch wel eens gaarne willen weten, hoe het
komt, dat ik nu hier zit en niet ergens boven het Kanaal zweef.

—Heel eenvoudig, mijn jongen, ik ben van plan eenige dagen in


Parijs te blijven.

—Midden in den winter?

—Midden in den winter!

—Mag ik vragen wat je hier zoo plotseling aantrekt?

—Natuurlijk! Heb je de bladen dan niet gelezen?

—De bladen? herhaalde Charly verbaasd, zeker heb ik dat! Maar ik


kan niet inzien …

—Dan hecht je zeker niet veel waarde aan een omstandigheid welke
mijn aandacht heeft getroffen; ik zal je niet langer in de onzekerheid
houden. Koning Alfonso van Spanje is hier op bezoek, weliswaar niet
officieel, want hij reist incognito, onder den naam van den graaf van
Toledo, maar dat heeft toch niet belet, dat President Poincaré hem in
statie heeft ontvangen en dat Zijne Majesteit morgen op het Elysée
zal dineeren. Toespraken worden er dan natuurlijk niet gewisseld—
maar dat neemt niet weg, dat het bezoek van den koning van Spanje
van groot gewicht voor zijn eigen land zoowel als voor Frankrijk is.

—Dat is waar! riep Charly nu uit. De betrekkingen tusschen de beide


landen zijn een weinig gespannen in verband met de Marokkaansche
kwestie.

Naar het schijnt is er oneenigheid gerezen naar aanleiding van de


Spaansche interpretatie van de overeenkomst volgens welke Spanje
het protectoraat uitoefent over een deel van Marokko.

—Juist, en Alfonso is eenvoudig hier gekomen om de zaak in der


minne te schikken. Hij is een groot [20]minnaar van Frankrijk en men
heeft te Madrid waarschijnlijk geoordeeld, dat hij beter dan iemand
anders in staat zou zijn om het opkomend onweder te doen
overdrijven.

—Nu ja—maar wat kan ons dat nu eigenlijk allemaal schelen, hernam
Charly verwonderd, terwijl hij zijn stem liet dalen.

—Meer dan je denkt, antwoordde Raffles glimlachend, denk toch


eens aan, een koning. Weliswaar een koning zonder grooten
hofstaat, maar toch een voortreffelijk object.…..

Raffles voltooide den zin niet, maar wierp Charly een eigenaardigen
blik toe.

De jonge man wierp zich met een verschrikte uitdrukking op zijn


gelaat achterover in zijn stoel en zeide toen bijna onhoorbaar:

—Ben je krankzinnig geworden? Dat kan je toch onmogelijk ernst


zijn?
—Het is mij integendeel volle ernst! Hier biedt zich een prachtige
gelegenheid aan, om het avontuurlijke met het nuttige te vereenigen!
De koning van Spanje wordt over het algemeen een sympathiek man
geacht, maar toch een weinig gierig. Ik acht dit een zeer slechte
karaktereigenschap, die bestraft moet worden! En dan—ik zou dien
monarch zoo gaarne eens van dicht bij zien, en daarom heb ik geen
weerstand kunnen bieden aan den lust hier eenige dagen te
vertoeven.

—Maar hoe stel je je dat toch wel voor, om in zijn nabijheid te


geraken? ging Charly hoofdschuddend voort.

—O, dat zal mij later wel invallen, dat is niet zoo moeilijk. Wij kunnen
ons bijvoorbeeld uitgeven voor bijzondere correspondenten van de
„Times” of van een ander groot blad, maar dat is van later zorg. Ik
moet natuurlijk eerst de plaatselijke gesteldheid opnemen, alvorens ik
mijn veldtochtplan klaar heb.

Charly zeide niets meer.

Het avontuur leek hem zóó dol, zóó volmaakt onuitvoerbaar, dat hij er
zelfs niet meer over spreken wilde.

De koning van Spanje berooven, het was onzinnig; het kon alleen
maar ontstaan in het brein van een man als John Raffles.

Het was nu dag geworden en de zon schoot haar schuine stralen


over het aardrijk en rolde als het ware de nevelen op, die het
ontzaglijke manoeuvreterrein tot dusverre aan het oog had
onttrokken.

—Luister eens, vriend, zoo wendde Raffles zich tot den


restauranthouder, kan men hier in de buurt een auto huren?

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