Answer:
Piedmont Company
1. Computation of the Companywide break-even point:
Break-even point = Fixed Cost/Contribution per margin
= $215,000/$27 = 7,963 units
2. Computation of the break-even point in dollar sales for the North region:
Break-even point in dollar sales = Fixed Costs/Contribution margin percentage
= $107,500/30% = $358,333
3. Computation of the break-even point in dollar sales for the South region:
= $107,500/60% = $179,1667
Explanation:
a) Data
Piedmont Company Contribution format segmented income statement as shown:
Total Company North South
Sales $ 675,000 $ 450,000 $ 225,000
Variable expenses 405,000 315,000 90,000
Contribution margin 270,000 135,000 135,000
Traceable fixed expenses 150,000 75,000 75,000
Segment margin 120,000 $ 60,000 $ 60,000
Common fixed expenses 65,000 32,500 32,500
Net operating income $ 55,000 $27,500 $27,500
NB: The common fixed expenses must be shared in some way to calculate the break-even points.
b) Total fixed costs:
Company-wide = $215,000 ($150,000 + 65,000)
North = $107,500 ($75,000 + 32,500)
South = $107,500 ($75,000 + 32,500)
c) We assume that the sales unit of 5,000 each for the two regions. Total units = 10,000
d) Contribution per margin:
Company-wide = $270,000/10,000 = $27
North = $135,000/5,000 = $27
South = $135,000/5,000 = $27
e) Contribution margin percentage:
= Contribution/Sales x 100
Company-wide = $270,000/$675,000 x 100 = 40%
North = $135,000/$450,000 x 100 = 30%
South = $135,000/$225,000 x 100 = 60%
f) The break-even point is the quantity of sales that must be achieved for the fixed costs to be fully covered and no profit or loss is recorded. It is the point at which fixed costs are equal to the contribution. The contribution is the difference between the sales value and the variable costs.
