Degree of Operating Leverage Calculation and Explanation

Degree of Operating Leverage

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Question

The "degree of leverage" concept is designed to show how changes in sales will affect EBIT and EPS. If a 10 percent increase in sales causes EPS to increase from $1.00 to $1.50, and if the firm uses no debt, then what is its degree of operating leverage?

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A. B. C. D. E.

D

These two equations could be used:

DTL = (DOL)(DFL).

EPS(1) = EPS(0)[1 + (DTL)(%Change Sales)].

Note that EPS rises by 50 percent, from $1.00 to $1.50, on a 10 percent increase in sales, so

1.50 = 1.00[1 + (DTL)(0.1)]

1.50 = 1 + 0.1 DTL

0.1 DTL = 0.50

DTL = 5.00.

Now DTL = 5 = (DOL)(DFL)

But if Debt = 0, then DFL = 1, so DOL = DTL = 5.0.