The determination of the return required by investors on a company’s accumulated profits, which have been reinvested in the business rather than distributed as dividends, is a critical element in financial decision-making. This process involves assessing the opportunity cost faced by shareholders who forgo current dividends in anticipation of future gains. For example, if a company retains earnings to fund an expansion project, the rate of return expected on that investment must be at least equal to the return investors could obtain by investing in alternative assets with similar risk profiles.
Accurately assessing this implicit cost is important for several reasons. It provides a benchmark for evaluating the profitability of internal investments. It also aids in establishing an optimal capital structure, balancing debt and equity financing. Historically, companies have relied on various models, such as the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and the Dividend Discount Model (DDM), to approximate this return. These models consider factors like the risk-free rate, market risk premium, and expected dividend growth to arrive at a suitable estimate. Ignoring this cost can lead to suboptimal investment decisions, eroding shareholder value over time.
