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Answer : D

Projected sales for 20X4 equal $500,000 1.20 = $600,000. With the inventory-to-sales ratio expected to remain constant at 25%, projected inventory equals 25% of projected sales. Thus, inventory = 0.25 $600,000 = $150,000. This approach reflects common financial planning techniques where balance sheet items are forecast using stable ratios tied to sales growth. Such pro forma analysis helps managers anticipate future asset needs and financing requirements. Option D correctly applies the inventory-to-sales ratio to projected sales.

Answer : C

The SEC's EDGAR system is used for the electronic filing, storage, and retrieval of company disclosures and reports. Public companies submit documents such as annual reports, quarterly reports, registration statements, proxy materials, and other required filings through this system. Investors, analysts, regulators, and the general public can then access these filings online to review financial statements, management discussion, risk disclosures, and other important corporate information. Choice C is correct because EDGAR's core function is to make company filings available in an organized electronic database. Choice A is incorrect because EDGAR is not a trading platform. Choice B is unrelated because the SEC does not regulate the Federal Reserve through EDGAR. Choice D is incorrect because deposit insurance is associated with the FDIC, not the SEC. From a financial management and corporate governance perspective, EDGAR promotes transparency, timely disclosure, and informed decision-making in capital markets. Easy access to reliable financial information helps reduce information asymmetry between firms and investors. Therefore, C is the correct answer because EDGAR is specifically designed for online filing and retrieval of public company disclosures.

Answer : B

Company size has a significant effect on capital structure because larger firms generally have better access to external financing markets. Large companies often have more stable cash flows, broader operating histories, stronger credit profiles, and greater name recognition among investors and lenders. As a result, they are more likely to obtain financing from both debt markets and equity markets on favorable terms. They may be able to issue bonds publicly, negotiate better loan agreements, and attract equity investors more easily than smaller firms. In contrast, smaller firms often face more information asymmetry, less predictable earnings, and fewer financing alternatives, which can increase their cost of capital and limit access to long-term funding. Choice A is too narrow and not generally true. Choice C is incorrect because larger firms are usually less dependent on internal financing, not more. Choice D is also incorrect because smaller firms often face higher borrowing costs due to greater perceived risk. Financial management theory recognizes firm size as an important determinant of financing flexibility and capital structure. Therefore, B is correct because larger firms typically enjoy broader and cheaper access to both debt and equity capital.

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Answer : B

Opportunity cost represents the return a firm forgoes by investing resources in one use instead of the next best alternative. In inventory management, capital tied up in inventory cannot be used for other value-generating activities such as investing in new projects, paying down debt, or returning cash to shareholders. Financial management emphasizes opportunity cost as a key component of inventory carrying costs, along with storage, insurance, and obsolescence. Ignoring opportunity costs can lead to excessive inventory levels and reduced firm value. Option B correctly identifies this fundamental concept.

Answer : C

A firm should avoid holding too much cash because excess cash creates opportunity costs. Cash is highly liquid and useful for transactions, precautionary needs, and flexibility, but it normally earns a lower return than productive investments such as equipment, expansion projects, debt reduction, or marketable securities with higher yields. When a company keeps more cash than needed for operations and risk management, it sacrifices the potential return that those funds could have earned elsewhere. Financial management emphasizes balancing liquidity against profitability. Too little cash can create distress and limit the ability to pay obligations on time, while too much cash can weaken overall performance by leaving resources idle. Choice C is correct because opportunity cost is the most direct financial drawback of excessive cash balances. Choice A is incorrect because firms do not pay interest simply for holding cash. Choice B is also incorrect because cash itself does not automatically create higher taxes in the way described. Choice D is not a valid financial objective. Therefore, C is the correct answer because unused cash can reduce shareholder value when it is not deployed in higher-return uses.

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