Cost of Capital Meaning, Types, and Examples

What is the Cost of Capital?

Cost of capital is the gain needed to realize an investment budgeting effort worthwhile, for example, the construction of a new facility. In discussing the cost of capital, analysts and investors usually reflect the balanced average of a company’s debt and cost of equity. Cost of capital cost measure is used internally by businesses to calculate the value of a capital project and by customers who use it to assess if an investment value is an expense relative to the gain. The capital expense depends on how borrowing is used. It applies to equity costs whether the enterprise is funded entirely by equity or by debt costs only if the enterprise is financed by debt. Many firms use a mix of debts and equity to fund their operations. The total cost of capital for those organizations is calculated from the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). 

For several factors, the cost of capital is significant. Capital cost is an important tool to make maximum investment possible for companies. Some of the detailed explanations why the capital expense is relevant are presented here:

• It allows investors to evaluate their choices.
• It supports decisions on capital budgets because companies have to determine if a project is worthwhile before they start.
• The perfect capital structure of your company is important for companies to develop.
• It may also be used to assess the success of certain ventures concerning the cost of capital

Example of Cost of Capital 

Any company and business would have its own cost of capital.  Here are a few examples to improve the comprehension and calculation of the cost of capital:

• Example 1

Take account of New Homes Immobiliare Trust or the REIT is evaluating the restoration of kitchens and bathrooms in 25 homes. The renovation will cost 30 million dollars and $5 million will save annually in the next five years. The possibility that renovations will not save $5 million annually is small. New Homes could also opt for a five-year bond at the same level of risk that yields 10 percent per year. It is estimated that the reconstruction budget will return to 16% annually ($5,000,000 / $30,000,000). The renovation project is a stronger investment than the 5-year mortgage since the rate of return approaches 10 percent of New Homes’ return.

• Example 2

Assume that a newly created Gold Corporation would collect $1.5 million to purchase an office and the facilities needed to operate their business. By selling stocks, the firm earns the first $800,000. Shareholders require a return of 5% on their savings, which means that the equity expense is 5%. The Gold Company then sells 700 loans to collect the remaining $ 700,000 in equity for one thousand dollars each. Persons purchasing these bonds expect a return of 10% because Gold’s debt rate is 10%. The net market capital of the Gold Company is estimated at $1.5 million ($800,000 equity plus + $700,000 debt) and 25%. The following formula can be used to measure the weighted average cost of capital:

WACC = ($800,000 / $1,500,000) x .05) + ($700,000 / $1,500,000) x .10) * (1 – 0.25) = 0.038 = 3.8%

The weighted average capital expense of the gold industry is 3.8%.

Types of Cost of Capital

• Explicit cost of capital

The explicit expenditure of each source can be represented as the discount rate which equates the current value of a company’s obtained cash outflows to the present value.

• The implicit cost of capital

Implicit costs can be described as the rate of return for the company and its owners that, if the undertaking’s project under review is approved, will be forgiven for the best investment opportunity. When a company holds the revenue, the implicit loss would be the income, if the owners had allocated and spent the profits elsewhere.

• The specific cost of capital

The costs of each capital component are known as the specific cost of capital. A company collects money from various sources including equity shares, preference shares, debenture, etc. Specific capital costs are the equivalent of equity capital, preference share capital, individual debenture costs, etc.

• The weighted average cost of capital

The combined cost of each portion of the funds used by the company is the weighted average capital cost. Weight is the proportion of the worth of the overall capital of each part of the capital. 

• The marginal cost of capital

Marginal costs are described as costs to raise an additional capital rupee. The incremental or differential capital expenditure is often referred to as the marginal cost of capital. It applies to the adjustment in the total capital cost as a result of raising another fund rupee. This is defined in other words as the corresponding costs of the additional funds the organization has to collect.

• Future cost and historical cost

The cost of funding for a given project is the estimated cost. When making financial decisions, they are very important. For example, a distinction should be made between the planned IRR and the expected funding expense of the same capital investment at the time financial decisions are taken, i.e. potential cost is the relevant costs. The cost to fund a specific project is historic expenses that have already been accrued. It helps plan future expenses. They have a performance assessment in addition to normal and/or default prices.

What are the components of the cost of capital?

• Debt 

In each of the many kinds of bonds or bank loans, the case of the debt is measured the same. Mainly non-financial, the characteristics that differentiate between one class of debt and the other can be analyzed as if only one type existed.

• Preferred stock

The company sells preferential shares to investors and compensates them by paying preferred dividends in the years to come. The dividends are paid before payment is collected by common owners. The preferred shares normally carry a percentage of the preferred per value at the defined dividend rate.

• Common Equity

There are common stock and residual profits in all current capital streams.

1. Common equity or external equity: the proceeds from the selling of additional common equity.
2. Restored income or existing equity: additional equity assets collected by retaining a share of existing income within the enterprise. The existing shareholders provide this source of equity in the form of foregoing dividends.

FAQs about the cost of capital calculation