Marriott Corporation

for the hurdle rates at Marriott Corporation and its three divisions utilizing CAPM and WACC. This case illustrates how to calculate beta based on comparable companies and to lever betas to adjust for capital structure; the appropriate risk-less rate and market risk premium; the choice of time period to estimate expected returns and the difference between the geometric and the arithmetic average as a measure of expected returns.

Marriott Corporation began in 1927, and over the next 60 years, the company grew into one of the leading lodging and food service companies in the US. In 1987, the Marriott's annual report stated, "We intend to remain a premier growth company. Our goal is to be the preferred employer and provider, and the most profitable company". MarriSYNOPSIS

Marriott Corporation began in 1927, and over the next 60 years, the company grew into one of the leading lodging and food service companies in the US. In 1987, the Marriott's annual report stated, "We intend to remain a premier growth company. Our goal is to be the preferred employer and provider, and the most profitable company". Marriott's profits were $223 million on sales of $6.5 billion.

In April 1988, vice president of project finance at the Marriott Corporation, Dan Cohrs, must prepare annual recommendations for the hurdle rates at each of the firm's three divisions, including restaurant, lodging, and contract services, as well as Marriott Corporation as a whole. The company's restaurants, such as Roy Rogers and Hot Shoppes, provided 13 percent of 1987 sales and 16 percent of profits. Lodging operations included 361 hotels and more than 100,000 rooms, and generated 41 percent of 1987 sales and 51 percent of profits. Contract services provided food and services management to health-care and educational institutions and corporations, and accounted for 46 percent of 1987 sales and 33 percent