Question

In: Accounting

4. Define operating leverage, discuss the appropriate level of operating leverage for a start-up company, a...

4. Define operating leverage, discuss the appropriate level of operating leverage for a start-up company, a company in a growing market, and a company with a product in a mature market.

Solutions

Expert Solution

Define operating leverage

Operating leverage is the ratio of a company's fixed costs to its variable costs. In a sense, operating leverage is a means to calculating a company's breakeven point. However, it's also clear from the formula that companies with high operating leverage ratios can essentially make more money from incremental revenues than other companies, because they don't have to increase costs proportionately to make those sales. Accordingly, companies with high operating leverage ratios are poised to reap more benefits from good marketing, economic pickups, or other conditions that tend to boost sales.

A firm that makes sales providing a very high gross margin and fewer fixed and variable cost has much leverage.

A Company with high fixed cost and low variiable cost has high operating leverage.

Where as a company with low fixed cost and high variable cost has low operating leverage.

High Leverage More Dependent on sales for profitability.

Start Up:Will be having higher operating leverage.

Mature Market :Will be having low operating leverage.

Growing Market :Will be having higher operating leverage.


Related Solutions

Problem 2-23B Analysis of operating leverage June Wade has invested in two start-up companies. At the...
Problem 2-23B Analysis of operating leverage June Wade has invested in two start-up companies. At the end of the first year, she asks you to evaluate their operating performance. The following operating data apply to the first year: Company Name Cook Penn Variable cost per unit (a) $ 16 $ 8   Sales revenue (8,000 units × $25) $200,000 $200,000 Variable cost (8,000 units × a)   (128,000) (64,000) Contribution margin 72,000 136,000 Fixed cost (40,000) (104,000) Net income $ 32,000 $...
With regards to Operating Leverage, please explain why a company with HIGH Operating Leverage faces greater...
With regards to Operating Leverage, please explain why a company with HIGH Operating Leverage faces greater financial risk in a declining sales period compared to a company with LOW Operating Leverage. (HINT: The key here is the relation between fixed costs and variable costs.) What does a business's Contribution Margin represent? What does the Contribution Margin have to do with Operating Leverage?
With regards to Operating Leverage, please explain why a company with HIGH Operating Leverage faces greater...
With regards to Operating Leverage, please explain why a company with HIGH Operating Leverage faces greater financial risk in a declining sales period compared to a company with LOW Operating Leverage. (HINT: The key here is the relation between fixed costs and variable costs.) What does a business's Contribution Margin represent? What does the Contribution Margin have to do with Operating Leverage?
At an output level of 62,000 units, you calculate that the degree of operating leverage is...
At an output level of 62,000 units, you calculate that the degree of operating leverage is 3.70. Suppose fixed costs are $280,000. What is the operating cash flow at 56,000 units? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your final answer to the nearest whole number, e.g., 32.) Operating cash flow $ What is the new degree of operating leverage? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your final answer to 3 decimal places, e.g., 32.161.) Degree of operating leverage
At an output level of 45,000 units, you calculate that the degree of operating leverage is...
At an output level of 45,000 units, you calculate that the degree of operating leverage is 2.79. Fixed costs are $175,000. a. What is the operating cash flow at 43,000 units? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to the nearest whole number, e.g., 32.) b. What is the degree of operating leverage? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to 3 decimal places, e.g., 32.161.)
At an output level of 16,000 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage...
At an output level of 16,000 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage is 1.6. The operating cash flow is $32,000 in this case.    Required: (a) Ignoring the effect of taxes, what are fixed costs? (Do not round your intermediate calculations.) (Click to select)$21,500$26,000$19,200$22,900$18,550    (b) What will the operating cash flow be if output rises to 17,000 units? (Do not round your intermediate calculations.) (Click to select)$43,000$39,500$37,800$34,250$35,200    (c) What will the operating cash flow...
At an output level of 12,400 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage...
At an output level of 12,400 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage is 2.70. The operating cash flow is $46,000 in this case. Ignore the effect of taxes. What will be the new degree of operating leverage for output levels of 13,400 units and 11,400 units? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answers to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)       13,400 units 11,400 units   Degree of operating leverage          
At an output level of 17,000 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage...
At an output level of 17,000 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage is 2.20. The operating cash flow is $64,000 in this case. Ignore the effect of taxes. What will be the new degree of operating leverage for output levels of 18,000 units and 16,000 units? (Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answers to 2 decimal places, e.g., 32.16.)
At an output level of 18,000 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage...
At an output level of 18,000 units, you have calculated that the degree of operating leverage is 2.10. The operating cash flow is $46,500 in this case. Ignore the effect of taxes. a. What are fixed costs? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to the nearest whole number, e.g., 32.) b. What will the operating cash flow be if output rises to 19,000 units? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to 2 decimal places,...
What is operating leverage?  How can operating leverage be used in decision making?  When does a company want...
What is operating leverage?  How can operating leverage be used in decision making?  When does a company want a higher degree of operating leverage? When does a company want a lower degree of operating leverage?  How can a company shift their operating leverage (how can a company move from high operating leverage to low operating leverage or the opposite?)
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT