Friday 9 August 2013

CVP Analysis: Contribution Margin Ratio

CONTRIBUTION MARGIN RATIO

The contribution margin (CM) ratio is the ratio of contribution margin to total sales:

If the company has only one product, the CM ratio can also be computed using per unit data:

The CM ratio shows how the contribution margin will be affected by a given change in total sales.

BREAKEVEN ANALYSIS - EQUATION METHOD
Q = Break-even quantity
Sales = Variable expenses + Fixed expenses + Profits
Q x selling price/unit = (Q x variable expense/unit) + Fixed expenses + Profits

BREAKEVEN ANALYSIS - CONTRIBUTION MARGIN METHOD
Break-even quantity = Fixed Expenses
                                      CM/u

To calculate the breakeven point in sales dollars, substitute ratios as a percent of sales for dollars. Or, calculate the breakeven point in units and multiply by the selling price/unit.

MARGIN OF SAFETY
     The margin of safety is the excess of budgeted (or actual) sales over the break-even sales. The margin of safety can be expressed either in dollar or percentage form. The formulas are:

OPERATING LEVERAGE
Operating leverage measures how a given percentage change in sales affects net operating income.  It is a measure of volatility in net income caused by high fixed expenses relative to variable expenses.


Use the income statements for Company X and Y to compute:
a.    Breakeven point in units and sales dollars.
b.    Margin of safety.
c.    Degree of operating leverage.
d.    The change in net income caused by a 10% increase in sales.



Company X
Company Y
Sales  (5,000 units) ..................
$500,000
100%
$500,000
100%
Less variable expenses..............
 350,000
 70   
 100,000
 20   
Contribution margin..................
150,000
 30%
400,000
 80%
Less fixed expenses...................
  90,000

 340,000

Net operating income................
$ 60,000

$ 60,000