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Free Questions › CFA › Equity
Free CFA Equity Practice Questions & Answers
400 exam-style Equity questions. Pick your answer, hit Check answer, and see the worked solution — free to start, no signup.
100% free · No login to startQuestion 31
Residual income is most sensitive to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Required return on equity
Explanation: Why correct: RI = (ROE − required return) × BV. Required return directly affects RI. A/C/D. These affect earnings but not as directly as required return
Question 32
A firm with negative residual income is:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Destroying shareholder value
Explanation: Why correct: Negative RI means ROE < required return → value destruction. B. Only if RI positive C. Only if RI zero D. Dividend ability unrelated
Question 33
The present value of future residual income is added to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Current book value
Explanation: Why correct: Intrinsic value = Book value + PV of future RI. A. Debt not part of equity valuation C/D. Not components of RI valuation
Question 34
A firm with high ROE but declining book value will have RI that:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Falls
Explanation: Why correct: RI = (ROE − r) × BV. If BV shrinks, RI shrinks. A. Only if BV rises C. Only if BV constant D. Not implied
Question 35
Residual income is zero when:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — ROE = required return
Explanation: Why correct: If ROE equals required return → no value added. B. RI positive C. RI negative D. Negative BV breaks the model
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Question 36
The RI model is most similar in structure to:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Economic profit model
Explanation: Why correct: RI = economic profit for equity holders. A/B. Different cash flow definitions D. Not a valuation model
Question 37
A firm with ROE below required return but rising book value will have RI that:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Falls
Explanation: Why correct: RI = (negative number) × BV → becomes more negative. A. Only if ROE > r C. Only if ROE = r D. Cannot become positive
Question 38
The clean surplus relation excludes:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Owner transactions
Explanation: Why correct: Owner transactions (share issues, buybacks) bypass income. A/B/D. These are part of clean surplus
Question 39
A firm with high ROE due to one‑time gains will have RI that is:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Overstated
Explanation: Why correct: One‑time gains inflate ROE → RI overstated. A. Not sustainable C. Opposite D. RI depends on ROE
Question 40
Residual income valuation is most appropriate when:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Book value is meaningful
Explanation: Why correct: RI relies heavily on book value. B. Negative BV breaks the model C. Volatile BV reduces reliability D. BV is central to RI
Question 41
A firm with ROE far above required return will have:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — High residual income
Explanation: Why correct: Large spread → large RI. B/C. Only if ROE = or < required return D. RI depends directly on ROE
Question 42
The persistence factor in RI models measures:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — How long abnormal earnings last
Explanation: Why correct: Persistence = durability of abnormal earnings. A/C/D. Not related to persistence
Question 43
A persistence factor close to zero implies:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Abnormal earnings fade quickly
Explanation: Why correct: Low persistence → rapid fade. B. Opposite C. Only if persistence = 1 D. Not implied
Question 44
A persistence factor close to one implies:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Abnormal earnings fade slowly
Explanation: Why correct: High persistence → slow fade. B. Opposite C/D. Not implied
Question 45
Residual income valuation is particularly useful for firms with:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Large intangible assets
Explanation: Why correct: RI captures value not reflected in book value, useful for intangible‑heavy firms. B. No BV → cannot compute RI C. No earnings → RI meaningless D. No equity → no RI model
Question 46
Which statement best describes residual income (RI)?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Net income minus the required return on equity capital
Explanation: Why: RI measures profit after covering the shareholders’ required return. A: Dividends are irrelevant to RI. C: This mixes operating and financing items. D: That describes free cash flow, not RI.
Question 47
A company has beginning equity of $200M and its shareholders require 10%. If net income is $30M, what is residual income?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — $20M
Explanation: Required return = 0.10 × 200 = 20 → RI = 30 – 20 = 10? Wait—check options. Actually: 30 – 20 = 10, but option A is 10. Correct Answer: A Why others wrong: They ignore the equity charge.
Question 48
Which assumption is required for clean surplus accounting?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — All changes in equity except owner transactions must pass through the income statement
Explanation: Clean surplus: Ending BV = Beginning BV + NI − Dividends (no direct equity bypass except owner transactions).
Question 49
A company has ROE of 18% and required return of 12%. Beginning book value is $50 per share. What is RI?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — $6
Explanation: Net income = 0.18 × 50 = 9 Equity charge = 0.12 × 50 = 6 RI = 9 – 6 = 3 → Option A? Correct calculation: 9 – 6 = 3 Correct Answer: A
Question 50
The residual income model values equity as:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Book value plus present value of future RI
Explanation: RI model: 𝑉 0 = 𝐵 0 + ∑ 𝑅 𝐼 𝑡 ( 1 + 𝑟 ) 𝑡 .
Question 51
A firm with ROE equal to its required return will have:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Zero RI
Explanation: RI = (ROE − r) × BV. If ROE = r → RI = 0.
Question 52
Which situation weakens the reliability of RI valuation?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Clean surplus violations
Explanation: If clean surplus fails, book value and RI flows are distorted.
Question 53
If a firm’s ROE is consistently below its required return, its price-to-book ratio should be:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Below 1
Explanation: Negative RI → equity worth less than book → P/B < 1.
Question 54
A persistence factor close to 1 implies:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: B — Abnormal earnings persist for a long time
Explanation: Persistence φ near 1 → slow decay of abnormal earnings.
Question 55
A firm has beginning book value of $100, ROE of 20%, and required return of 10%. What is RI?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — $10
Explanation: Net income = 20 Equity charge = 10 RI = 10
Question 56
RI valuation is most similar to which other model?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Economic profit model
Explanation: Both focus on excess returns over required return on capital/equity.
Question 57
A firm with high leverage will likely have:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Higher ROE volatility
Explanation: Leverage magnifies earnings swings → more volatile ROE.
Question 58
Which is NOT an advantage of RI valuation?
Select an option first.
Correct answer: C — Works when book value is negative
Explanation: RI relies on meaningful book value; negative BV undermines the framework.
Question 59
The terminal value in RI models is usually based on:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: A — Constant RI growth
Explanation: Common assumption: RI grows at constant rate beyond forecast horizon.
Question 60
A firm’s RI will increase if:
Select an option first.
Correct answer: D — ROE increases
Explanation: RI = (ROE − r) × BV. Higher ROE (holding r, BV constant) → higher RI.
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