Your bank account pays an interest rate of 9 percent. You are considering buying a share of stock in XYZ Corporation for $90. After 1, 2, and 3 years, it will pay a dividend of $4. You expect to sell the stock after 3 years for $100.Is XYZ a good investment?

It is NOT a good investment.

Explanation:

Your bank account pays an interest of 9% per annum. This can be used as a discount rate to discount the dividends and the final Sales price to the present to see if the present value of Future benefits is more than what the stock is valued at now.

If the Present Value of the future benefits is higher than the cost now, XYZ is a good investment.

$4 are expected every year for 3 years and then on the third year, the stock will be sold for $100.

Discounting therefore gives us,

= (4 / (1 + 9%) ) + (4 / (1 + 9%)^2) + ( 4 / ( 1 + 9%) ^ 3) + ( 100 / ( 1 + 9%) ^ 3)

= 87.34

= $87.34

The Present Value of the future benefits including the future sales price is $87.34 which is less than the current cost of the stock at $90.

XYZ is NOT a good investment.