positive than the actual results for 2009. Not surprisingly, the day following the Web conference, MultiTech's stock rose 15 percent. In early October 2010, the CEO and CFO of MultiTech met and developed revised projections for fiscal 2010, based on actual results for the first three quarters of the year and projections for the final quarter. Their revised projections for 2010 follow: Sales $38,000 Cost of Goods Sold (30,500) $ 7,500 Gross Margin Operating expenses Operating incorne (4,000) $ 3.500 Upon reviewing these numbers, the CEO turned to the CFO and stated, "I think the market will be forgiving if we come in 5 percent light on the top line (sales), but if we miss operating income by 12.5 percent ($500 + $4,000) our stock is going to get hammered when we announce fourth quarter and annual results." The CFO mulled the situation over for a couple of days and started to develop a strategy to increase reported income by increasing production above planned levels. She believed this strategy could successfully move $500 million from Cost of Goods Sold to Finished Goods Inventory. If so, the firm could meet its early profit projections. a. How does increasing production,relative to the planned level of production, decrease Cost of Goods Sold? b. What other accounts are likely to be affected by a strategy of increasing production to increase income? c. Is the CFO'S plan ethical? Explain. d. If you were a stockholder of MultiTech and carefully examined the 2010 financial Matements, how might you detect the results of the CFO's strategy?

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ISBN:9781259964947
Author:Libby
Publisher:Libby
Chapter1: Financial Statements And Business Decisions
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51. LO.1, LO.6, & LO.7 (Overhead application; absorption costing; ethics; writing)
Prior to the start of fiscal 2010, mariagers of Multi Tech hosted a Web conference for
their shareholders, financial analysts, and members of the financial press. During the
conference, the CEO and CFO released the following financial projections for 2010 to
the attendees (amounts in millions):
$40,000
32.000)
$ 8,000
(4,000)
Sales
Cost of Goods Sold
Gross Margin
Operating expenses
Operating income
$ 4,000
As had been their custom, the CEO and CFO projected confidence that the fn
would achieve these goals, even though their projections had been significantly more
positive than the actual results for 2009. Not surprisingly, the day following the Web
conference, MultiTech's stock rose 15 percent.
In early October 2010, the CEO and CFO of MultiTech met and developed
revised projections for fiscal 2010, based on actual results for the first three quarters
of the year and projections for the final quarter. Their revised projections for 2010
follow:
Sales
$38,000
Cost of Goods Sold
30,500)
$ 7,500
Gross Margin
Operating expenses
(4,000)
$ 3,500
Operating income
Upon reviewing these numbers, the CEO turned to the CFO and stated, "I think the
market will be forgiving if we come in 5 percent light on the top line (sales), but if
we miss operating income by 12.5 percent ($500 + $4,000) our stock is going to get
hammered when we announce fourth quarter and annual results."
The CFO mulled the situation over for a couple of days and started to develop
a strategy to increase reported income by increasing production above planned
levels. She believed this strategy could successfully move $500 million from Cost of
Goods Sold to Finished Goods Inventory. If so, the firm could meet its early profit
projections.
a. How does increasing production, relative to the planned level of production, decrease
Cost of Goods Sold?
b. What other accounts are likely to be affected by a strategy of increasing production
to increase income?
c. Is the CFO's plan ethical? Explain.
d. If you were a stockholder of Multi Tech and carefiully examined the 2010 financial
statements, how might you detect the results of the CFO's strategy?
Transcribed Image Text:51. LO.1, LO.6, & LO.7 (Overhead application; absorption costing; ethics; writing) Prior to the start of fiscal 2010, mariagers of Multi Tech hosted a Web conference for their shareholders, financial analysts, and members of the financial press. During the conference, the CEO and CFO released the following financial projections for 2010 to the attendees (amounts in millions): $40,000 32.000) $ 8,000 (4,000) Sales Cost of Goods Sold Gross Margin Operating expenses Operating income $ 4,000 As had been their custom, the CEO and CFO projected confidence that the fn would achieve these goals, even though their projections had been significantly more positive than the actual results for 2009. Not surprisingly, the day following the Web conference, MultiTech's stock rose 15 percent. In early October 2010, the CEO and CFO of MultiTech met and developed revised projections for fiscal 2010, based on actual results for the first three quarters of the year and projections for the final quarter. Their revised projections for 2010 follow: Sales $38,000 Cost of Goods Sold 30,500) $ 7,500 Gross Margin Operating expenses (4,000) $ 3,500 Operating income Upon reviewing these numbers, the CEO turned to the CFO and stated, "I think the market will be forgiving if we come in 5 percent light on the top line (sales), but if we miss operating income by 12.5 percent ($500 + $4,000) our stock is going to get hammered when we announce fourth quarter and annual results." The CFO mulled the situation over for a couple of days and started to develop a strategy to increase reported income by increasing production above planned levels. She believed this strategy could successfully move $500 million from Cost of Goods Sold to Finished Goods Inventory. If so, the firm could meet its early profit projections. a. How does increasing production, relative to the planned level of production, decrease Cost of Goods Sold? b. What other accounts are likely to be affected by a strategy of increasing production to increase income? c. Is the CFO's plan ethical? Explain. d. If you were a stockholder of Multi Tech and carefiully examined the 2010 financial statements, how might you detect the results of the CFO's strategy?
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