The Following Information on the Stock of Avon, Inc

The following information on the stock of Avon, Inc.was obtained on Thurs., Nov.11, 1999: Stock price = V_E = $28.50;
Latest annual dividends per share = D_t-1 = $0.72
5-year average earnings growth rate = g_historical = 4.31%
Suppose dividends per share for the next year are projected to be D_t = $0.75.If we also assume that the market is pricing Avon stock to have an expected return of r_E = 9%, is the market pricing Avon stock to have _____earnings growth rate, g, than/as it had over the past 5 years?

A) a higher
B) a lower
C) the same