Several studies examine the cost of capital for large firms [Gitman and Mercurio
(1982), Jog and Srivastava (1995), and Oblak and Helm, Jr. (1980)] and other studies
examine the approximate cost of capital facing large companies [Schall, Sundem, and
Geijsbeek, Jr. (1978), and Gitman and Forrester (1977)]. Oblak and Helm, Jr. (1980)
examine the cost of capital practices of multinationals and found weighted average cost
of capital (WACC) was used by 54% of the respondents. Other measures cited in their
study include the cost of debt, past experience, expected growth rate, and CAPM. Jog
and Srivastava (1995) found WACC to be used by 47% of Canadian firms, but significant
numbers of firms also use the other measures found in Oblak and Helm, Jr. (1980).
In academia, it is argued that WACC is the superior base level for cost of capital
determinations.