Accretive/dilutive technical interview question

Hi everyone, I was checking out the WSO mock interview #1, the guy asks "assuming all else being equal, which transaction is most likely to be most accretive, one that uses all cash (doesnt matter if its debt) or all equity?" does anyone know how to approach this question? It seems easy enough but for some reason, I'm very lost.

Here's the link in case you want to see for yourself: https://www.youtube(DOT)com/watch?v=g95PJBrtMic

12 Comments
 
"spla626" Assuming equal P/E ratios for both companies, issuing shares would be neutral. Paying with cash would be dilutive because the acquiring company loses the little interest generated by the cash.

Except you gain all the earnings of target as well which generally is greater than the lost cash interest and any incremental amortization (which is non-cash so wouldn't affect cash EPS).

 
Most Helpful

If that's the entire question, it's strange. It depends entirely on the cost of the cash (in interest expense for borrowed cash, or lost interest income for existing cash) vs. the yield on the acquiror's stock, which is expressed as PE. If the acquirer's stock trades at 300x forward earnings, equity is probably going to be the more accretive form of consideration. If the acquirer's stock trades at 10x earnings but the company can borrow at 0.5% interest, cash/debt is going to be more accretive.

 

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