Question1: Albatross Airline's fixed operating costs are 5.8 million dollar, and its variable cost ratio .20. The firm has $2 million in bonds outstanding with a coupon interest rate of 8 percent. Albatross has 30,000 shares of preferred stock outstanding, which pays a $2 yearly dividend. There are 100,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Revenues for the firm are 8 million dollar and the firm is in the 40% corporate income tax bracket.
[A] Calculate Albatross' degree of operating leverage
[B] Calculate its degree of financial leverage
[C] Calculate its degree of combined leverage and interpret this value
Question2: Suppose that all other factors remain unchanged; evaluate how a firm's breakeven point is affected by each of the following:
[A] The firm's direct labor costs rise as a result of a new labor contract.
[B] The firm finds it necessary to reduce the price per unit due to competitive conditions on the market.
[C] The occupational Safety and Health Administration requires the firm to install new ventilating equipment at its plant. [Suppose this action has no effect on worker productivity]