A note resolving the debate on “The weighted average cost of capital is not quite right”

Miller (2009a) derives a weighted average cost of capital for the special case where the cash flows to equity and the cash flows to debt are annuities. The paper attracts debate. We show that the weighted average cost of capital is redundant in a world where interest paid is not tax deductible. The required rate of return on unlevered equity will consistently and reliably estimate the net present value of any project no matter the idiosyncratic beliefs of the analyst as to the year-by-year leverage of the project, or of the firm. We recommend that the weighted average cost of capital method is discarded.

► Resolves the debate on the ‘WACC is not quite right’. ► Shows the WACC method is redundant if interest is not tax deductible. ► Argues the required rate of return on unlevered equity is more reliable.