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The following information is for X Company\'s two products, A and B, last year:

ID: 2573919 • Letter: T

Question

The following information is for X Company's two products, A and B, last year:


Because of the reported loss for Product A, X Company is considering dropping it. Further analysis reveals that $28,130 of Product A's fixed costs and $7,550 of Product B's fixed costs are common costs that the company allocates to the two products.

If X Company drops Product A, company profits will change by

Assume that sales of Product B can be increased by $18,150 if Product A is dropped. What will be the effect of this increase on company profits?

Product A     Product B Sales $89,690    $91,260    Total variable costs 49,330    53,843    Total fixed costs 76,640    28,090    Profit $-36,280    $9,327   

Explanation / Answer

X Company

Determination of the effect of dropping Product A on the profits of X Company:

Product A –

Contribution margin = sales – variable cost

CM = $89,690 - $49,330 = $40,360

Avoidable fixed cost = total fixed cost – allocated fixed cost

Total fixed cost = $76,640

Allocated fixed cost = $28,130

Avoidable fixed cost = $48,510

Profit/(Loss) = CM – avoidable fixed cost

= $40,360 - $48,510 = -$8,150

Hence, dropping of Product A would decrease the overall loss by $8,150

Alternatively,

When Product A is dropped, allocated fixed cost of $28,130 will be borne by Product B.

Hence, the overall profit of the Company X would be = Profit of product B – allocated cost of Product A

Profit/(Loss) from Dropping of Product A = $9,327 - $28130 = -$18,803

Current overall profit of Company X = $9,327 - $36,280 = -$26,953

Hence, loss will decrease = $26953 - $18,803 = $8,150

Hence, dropping of Product A would result in an overall loss = $8,150

Analysis of increase in sales of Product B:

Product B –

Sales                           $91,260

Less: Variable cost     $53,843

Contribution margin   $35,693

CM Ratio = 35,693/91,260 = 39.11%

CM on increased sales = increased sales x CM ratio

Increased sales = $18,150

CM on increased sales = 18,150 x 39.11% = $7,099

Since no additional fixed costs (other than the allocated costs of Product A) are incurred, the increased sales of $18,150 of Product B would result in an increase in profits by $7,099.