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BREAKEVEN AND LEVERAGE Wingler Communications Corporation (WCC) produces premium

ID: 2791049 • Letter: B

Question

BREAKEVEN AND LEVERAGE

Wingler Communications Corporation (WCC) produces premium stereo headphones that sell for $28.60 per set, and this year's sales are expected to be 450,000 units. Variable production costs for the expected sales under present production methods are estimated at $10,100,000, and fixed production (operating) costs at present are $1,560,000. WCC has $4,800,000 of debt outstanding at an interest rate of 7%. There are 240,000 shares of common stock outstanding, and there is no preferred stock. The dividend payout ratio is 70%, and WCC is in the 40% federal-plus-state tax bracket.

The company is considering investing $7,200,000 in new equipment. Sales would not increase, but variable costs per unit would decline by 20%. Also, fixed operating costs would increase from $1,560,000 to $1,800,000. WCC could raise the required capital by borrowing $7,200,000 at 10% or by selling 240,000 additional shares of common stock at $30 per share.

What would be WCC's EPS (1) under the old production process, (2) under the new process if it uses debt, and (3) under the new process if it uses common stock? Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answers to the nearest cent.
1.  $
2.  $
3.  $

At what unit sales level would WCC have the same EPS assuming it undertakes the investment and finances it with debt or with stock? {Hint: V = variable cost per unit = $8,080,000/450,000, and EPS = [(PQ - VQ - F - I)(1 - T)]/N. Set EPSStock = EPSDebt and solve for Q.} Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answer to the nearest whole.
  units

At what unit sales level would EPS = 0 under the three production/financing setups - that is, under the old plan, the new plan with debt financing, and the new plan with stock financing? (Hint: Note that VOld = $10,100,000/450,000, and use the hints for part b, setting the EPS equation equal to zero.) Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answers to the nearest whole.
Old plan    units
New plan with debt financing    units
New plan with stock financing    units

On the basis of the analysis in parts a through c, and given that operating leverage is lower under the new setup, which plan is the riskiest, which has the highest expected EPS, and which would you recommend? Assume here that there is a fairly high probability of sales falling as low as 250,000 units, and determine EPSDebt and EPSStock at that sales level to help assess the riskiness of the two financing plans. Do not round intermediate calculations. Round your answers to two decimal places. Negative amount should be indicated by a minus sign.
EPSDebt = $
EPSStock = $

Explanation / Answer

Ans 1. Calculation of EPS under old system debt option equity option

Sales $12870000 $12870000 $12870000

v/c $1010000 $8080000 $8080000

contribution $2770000 $4790000 $4790000

f/c $1500000 $1800000 $1800000

operating income $1210000 $2990000 $2990000

Intt exp. $336000 $1056000 $336000

PBT $874000 $1934000 $2654000

Tax @40% $349600 $773600 $1061600

PAT $524400 $1160400 $1592400

No of share 240000 240000 480000

EPS $2.185 $4.835 $3.3175

2. Calculation of no of unit to be sold if both the option eps is same

Difference of fixed cost due to interest exp is

Intt exp for debt option is $1056000

Intt exp for equity option is $336000

Difference between intt exp $720000

total intt exp for 1st option $1056000

Add: Differnece amt $720000

Total exp. $1776000

Add: Fixed cost $1800000

Total fixed cost $3576000

Pv ratio 37.22

Sales value $3576000/.3722 = 9607738

Value per unit $17.50

No of unit sold = $9607738/17.50 = 549014 units

For verifed

debt option equity option

Contribution (9607738X.3722) $3576000 $3576000

less: Fixed cost $1800000 $1800000

Less: intt cost $1056000 $336000

PBT $720000 $1440000

Tax $288000 $576000

PAT $432000 $864000

No of share o/s $240000 $480000

EPS $1.80 $1.80

  

Calculation of Break even point

old method Debt option equity option

Fixed cost $1896000 $2856000 $2136000

Cont per unit 6.16 10.64 10.64

BEP point 307792 units 268421 units $200752 units

cont per unit for old method 28.60- (10100000/450000) = 6.16

new method 28.60 (8080000/450000) =10.64

d. Highest eps in debt option, this is high leverage option because interest expenses is more as compair of Equity option.

calculation of EPS at 250000 units

Debt option Equity option

Contribution (250000X10.64) $2660000 $2660000

Fixed cost $2856000 $2136000

PBT -$196000 $524000

Tax - $209600

PAT -$196000 $314400

No of share 240000 $480000

EPS -$.82 $.655

In This sales level Equity option is better as compair of debt option, because debt option is having high leverage.