Question

Answer following question with true or false and explain.A firm's profit margin is 5%, its debt/assets ratio is 56%, and its dividend payout ratio is 40%. If the firm is operating at less than full capacity, then sales could increase to some extent without the need for external funds, but if it is operating at full capacity with respect to all assets, including fixed assets, then any positive growth in sales will require some external financing.

Answer 1

Answer:

False

Explanation:

As a company's sales level increases, its current assets will increase, e.g. cash, inventories, accounts receivables increase. generally, also the fixed assets increase, specially if the firm was previous producing at full capacity even before total sales increased. But as sales increase, not only do the company's assets increase, its current liabilities generally increase also, and its profits should increase. In this case, 60% of the company's profits are reinvested in the company, and the liabilities represent more than half of the total assets. Therefore, it is possible that the company needs external financing, but it is also possible that it doesn't. You cannot assume that the company will necessarily need external financing, because retained earnings  and the increase in current liabilities might be enough to finance the company's growth in sales.