Mason and Kirsty purchase 30 shares of Apple stock on January 1, 2009 for $72.49 per share. Mason and Kirsty receive $0.36 per share in dividends each quarter. On December 31, 2015 Mason and Kirsty sell all 30 shares of Apple stock for $183.00 per share. Mason and Kirsty's long-term capital gains and dividends are taxed at 10%. What is Mason and Kirsty's after-tax average annual return? Calculate after-tax dividends on an annual basis at the end?

after-tax average annual return = 14.41% after tax dividends per year = $38.88

Explanation:

initial investment = 30 shares x $72.49 per share = $2,174.70

- dividends received per year = 30 shares x $0.36 x 4 (dividends paid every quarter) = $43.20

after tax dividends per year = $43.20 x 90% = $38.88

- long term capital gains = (30 shares x $183 per share) - initial investment = $5,490 - $2,174.70 = $3,315.30

taxes on long term capital gains = $3,315.30 x 10% = $331.53

To calculate Mason and Kirsty's after tax average annual return (interest rate) we can use the excel spreadsheet = RATE function, where:

PV = - 2174.70 FV = 5490 - 331.53 = 5158.47 Pmt = 38.88 Nper = 7

=RATE (nper, pmt, pv, [fv])

=RATE (7,38.88,-2174.70,5158.47) = 14.41%