Question

If we consider the effect of taxes, then the degree of operating leverage can be written as: DOL = 1 + [FC × (1 – TC) – TC × D]/OCF Consider a project to supply Detroit with 27,000 tons of machine screws annually for automobile production. You will need an initial $6,000,000 investment in threading equipment to get the project started; the project will last for 6 years. The accounting department estimates that annual fixed costs will be $1,450,000 and that variable costs should be $275 per ton; accounting will depreciate the initial fixed asset investment straight-line to zero over the 6-year project life. It also estimates a salvage value of $825,000 after dismantling costs. The marketing department estimates that the automakers will let the contract at a selling price of $392 per ton. The engineering department estimates you will need an initial net working capital investment of $580,000. You require a return of 11 percent and face a tax rate of 22. a. What is the percentage change in OCF if the units sold changes to 28,000? (Do not round intermediate calculations and enter your answer as a percent rounded to 4 decimal places, e.g., 32.1616.) b. What is the DOL at the base-case level of output? (Do not round intermediate calculations and round your answer to 4 decimal places, e.g., 32.1616.)

Answer 1

a.

b. DOL = 1 + [FC × (1 – TC) – TC × D]/OCF

DOL = 1 + [1450000 × (1 – 0.22) – 0.22 × 1000000]/1553020

DOL = 1 + 0.5866

DOL = 1.5866