Illinois Tool Corporation fixed operating expenses are $1,260,000 and its variable cost ratio (ie. variable costs are as a fraction of sales) is 0.70. The firm has $3,000,000 in bonds outstanding at an interest rate of 8 percent. ITC has 30,000 shares of $5 preferred stock and 150,000 shares of common stock outstanding. ITC is in the 50% corporate income tax bracket. Forecasted sales for next year are $9 million.
What is the ITC's degree of financial leverage (DFL) at an EBIT level of $1,440,000?
The answer to this problem is one of the following;
a. 1.20
b. 2.40
c. 3.00
d. 1.60