We are evaluating a project that costs $500,000 for the equipment, has a five-year life, and the market value of the equipment at the end of 5 years is 50,000. Assume that depreciation is straight-line to zero over the life of the project. Sales are projected at 30,000 units per year. Price per unit is $40, variable cost per unit is $20, and fixed costs are $100,000 per year. The tax rate is 35 percent, and we require a return of 14 percent on this project.
a. Calculate the accounting break-even point.
b. Calculate the base-case cash flow and NPV. What is the sensitivity of NPV to changes in the sales figure? Explain what your answer tells you about a 500-unit decrease in projected sales.
c. What is the sensitivity of NPV to changes in the variable cost figure? Explain what your answer tells you about a $1 decrease in estimated variable costs.