Question: (Financial forecasting)The balance sheet of the Thompson Trucking Company (TTC) follows: Thompson Trucking Company Balance Sheet, December 31, 2010 ($ millions); Current assets; $10.06; Accounts payable; $5.33 Net fixed assets; $14.34; Notes payable; $0.00 Total; $24.40; Bonds payable; $10.99; Common equity; $8.08; Total; $24.40 TTC had sales for the year ended 12/31/13 of $49.05 million. The firm follows a policy of paying all net earnings out to its common stockholders in cash dividends. Thus, TTC generates no funds from its earnings that can be used to expand its operations. (Assume that depreciation expense is just equal to the cost of replacing worn-out assets.). Hint: Make sure to round all intermediate calculations to at least five decimal places.
a. If TTC anticipates sales of $80.91million during the coming year, develop a pro forma balance sheet for the firm for 12/31/14. Assume that current assets vary as a percent of sales, net fixed assets remain unchanged, and accounts payable vary as a percent of sales. Use notes payable as a balancing entry.
b. How much "new" financing will TTC need next year?
c. What limitation does the percent-of-sales forecast method suffer from? Discuss briefly.