Question

Erin Shelton, Inc., wants to earn a target profit of $960,000 this year. The company’s fixed costs are expected to be $1,320,000 and its variable costs are expected to be 40 percent of sales. Erin Shelton, Inc., earned $860,000 in profit last year. Required: 1. Calculate break-even sales for Erin Shelton, Inc. 2. Prepare a contribution margin income statement on the basis break-even sales. 3. Calculate the required sales to meet the target profit of $960,000. 4. Prepare a contribution margin income statement based on sales required to earn a target profit of $960,000. 5. When the company earns $960,000 of net income, what is its margin of safety and margin of safety as a percentage of sales?

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Break-even sales = $2,200,000

2. Net Income = $0

3. Sales = $3,800,000

4. See explanation section

5. Margin of safety = $1,600,000

Margin of safety (%) = 42.11%

Explanation:

Requirement 1.

We know,

Break-even sales = Fixed expense ÷ Contribution Margin Ratio

Given,

Expected Fixed expense = $1,320,000

Contribution Margin Ratio = Contribution Margin ÷ Sales Revenue

As we do not have contribution margin and Sales Revenue, we have to use variable costs that is expected to be 40% of sales. Therefore,

Contribution Margin Ratio = Sales (%) - variable costs (%) = 100% - 40% = 60%

Therefore, Break-even sales = $1,320,000 ÷ 60%

Break-even sales = $1,320,000 ÷ 60%

Therefore, Break-even sales = $2,200,000

Requirement 2.

                         Erin Shelton, Inc.

Contribution Margin Income Statement format

For the year ended, December 31, Current year

Sales Revenue                                          $2,200,000 (Requirement 1)

Less: Variable expense (40% of sales)         880,000

Contribution Margin                                  $1,320,000

Less: Fixed Expense                                   1,320,000

Net operating Income                                        0

In break-even sales, total fixed expense = total contribution margin, therefore, no income or loss.

Requirement 3.

We know,

This year, To attain profit, sales = (Fixed expense + Target Profit) ÷ Contribution Margin Ratio

Given,

Expected Fixed expense = $1,320,000

Target Profit = $960,000

Contribution Margin Ratio = Contribution Margin ÷ Sales Revenue

As we do not have contribution margin and Sales Revenue, we have to use variable costs that is expected to be 40% of sales. Therefore,

Contribution Margin Ratio = Sales (%) - variable costs (%) = 100% - 40% = 60%

Therefore, To attain profit, sales = ($1,320,000 + $960,000) ÷ 60%

To attain profit, sales = $2,280,000 ÷ 60%

Therefore, To attain profit, sales = $3,800,000

Requirement 4.

Using To attain profit, sales = $3,800,000 (From Requirement 3) to find the net operating income

                          Erin Shelton, Inc.

Contribution Margin Income Statement format

For the year ended, December 31, Current year

Sales Revenue                                          $3,800,000 (Requirement 3)

Less: Variable expense (40% of sales)        1520,000

Contribution Margin                                  $2,280,000

Less: Fixed Expense                                   1,320,000

Net operating Income                                $960,000

Requirement 5.

We know,

Margin of safety = (Current sales - Break-even sales)

From Requirement 1, we get, Break-even sales = $2,200,000

From Requirement 3, we get, Current sales = $3,800,000

Margin of safety = $3,800,000 - $2,200,000

Therefore, Margin of safety = $1,600,000

Margin of safety as percentage = [(Current sales - Break-even sales) ÷ Current sales] × 100

Margin of safety = ($1,600,000 ÷ $3,800,000) × 100

or, Margin of safety = 0.42105 × 100

Margin of safety = 42.11%