You are having a coffee chat in downtown Evanston with a friend who has just started working as a stock analyst and are talking about leverage and firm value. While working, your friend noticed that Apple (AAPL), Peet’s Coffee (PEET), and Urban Outfitter (URBN) are all unlevered even though they have enough profits to bene t from the interest tax shield. They are also very cash-rich; Apple, for example, has over $9.8 billion in cash on its balance sheet as of September 2011. She concludes that all these firms are clearly not maximizing shareholder value, because they are leaving money on the table. Do you agree with her statement? Explain your answer completely. Hint: There is no definite answer for this question, so think of it as an open debate. Support your argument with facts and evidence.