Module Assignment
Overview: For this task, you will practice forecasting financial statements using actual numbers and explain the meaning of the analysis.
Prompt: First, review the Module Six resources. For this practice activity, we will use the End of Chapter exercise from pp. 703-704: "10.11 Identifying the Cost Structure and Projecting Gross Margins for Capital-Intensive, Cyclical Businesses." This includes the AK Steel case study. After reading the case study, answer questions A-D below. Refer to the textbook and other course materials to support your responses.
A. Cost Structure: Compute the cost structure for each firm. You will need to calculate three variables for both companies:
1. Variable Cost per Dollar of Sales = Change in Cost of Products Sold / Change in Sales:
2. Total Variable Cost = Variable Cost per Dollar of Sales * Sales:
3. Total Fixed Cost = Total Cost of Product Sold - Total Variable Cost:
B. Structure of Manufacturing Cost: In one paragraph, compare the structure of manufacturing costs for each firm:
C. Projected Financial Information: Compute the projected sales, cost of products sold, gross profit, and gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of sales) of each firm for Year +1 through Year +5. Using the table below or a similar spreadsheet is recommended.
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AK Steel
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Year +1
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Year +2
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Year +3
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Year +4
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Year +5
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Sales
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Less Cost of Product Sold: Variable Cost (0.568 of Sales)
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Fixed Costs
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Total Costs of Products Sold
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Gross Profit
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Gross Margin %
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Nucor
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Year +1
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Year +2
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Year +3
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Year +4
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Year +5
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Sales
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Less Cost of Product Sold: Variable Cost (0.613 of Sales)
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Fixed Costs
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Total Costs of Products Sold
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Gross Profit
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Gross Margin %
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D. Gross Margin Comparison: In one to two paragraphs, explain why the levels and variability of the gross margin percentages differ for these two firms for Year +1 through Year +5. Provide an example comparing the effect of the change in gross margin.(For example, if gross margin changed from 25% to 35%, what would it mean for each company?)
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.