Cost of Capital

acoustic blues mariachi, acoustic chicago blues cape verdean

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When companies need capital flow
Three sources make the money grow
Debt holders lend at interest rates
Preferred shares pay dividends that never wait
Common equity holders take the biggest chance
But WACC weighs them all in finance

[Chorus]
WACC - Weighted Average Cost of Capital
Debt after-tax, preferred, equity factorial
Cost of equity - CAPM's your friend
Beta times market premium to the end
Dividend discount or bond yield plus
Calculate the rate that funds your business

[Verse 2]
Cost of debt gets taxed away
Multiply by one minus the rate you pay
Preferred stock dividends never cease
Divide by market price for cost release
But equity's trickier to define
Three methods help you draw the line

[Chorus]
WACC - Weighted Average Cost of Capital
Debt after-tax, preferred, equity factorial
Cost of equity - CAPM's your friend
Beta times market premium to the end
Dividend discount or bond yield plus
Calculate the rate that funds your business

[Verse 3]
Beta measures systematic risk
Regression slopes or pure-play tricks
Unlever betas, strip out debt
Then lever up for what you'll get
When markets crash, does your stock fall?
Beta answers once and for all

[Bridge]
Emerging markets need extra care
Country risk premiums hanging in the air
Marginal costs curve upward bound
As cheaper capital can't be found
Flotation costs eat into proceeds
Adjust your calculations for what finance needs

[Chorus]
WACC - Weighted Average Cost of Capital
Debt after-tax, preferred, equity factorial
Cost of equity - CAPM's your friend
Beta times market premium to the end
Dividend discount or bond yield plus
Calculate the rate that funds your business

[Outro]
From risk-free rates to market swings
WACC captures financing's strings
Weight each source by market value
Calculate the cost that's truly due

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