Smiling Elephant, Inc., has an issue of preferred stock outstanding that pays a $5.60 dividend every year, in perpetuity. If this issue currently sells for $80.40 per share, what is the required return

Required rate of return is 6.97%

Explanation:

The required rate of return can be ascertained from the price formula below when the subject of the formula is changed to rate of return instead of stock price:

Stock price = dividend/required rate of return

stock price is $80.40

required rate of return is unknown

the dividend on the preferred stock is $5.60

required rate of return=dividend/stock price

required rate of return = $5.60/$80.40=6.97%

The required rate of return based on the stock price and dividend information provided is 6.97%