CVP-based sensitivity analysis highlights the risks and returns as fixed costs are substituted for variable costs in a company’s cost structure. In Exhibit 3-4, compare line 6 and line 11.
Line 11, which has higher fixed costs and lower variable costs than line 6, has a higher breakeven point but requires fewer units to be sold (48 vs. 50) to earn an operating income of $2,000. CVP analysis can help managers evaluate various fixed-cost/variable-cost structures. We next consider the effects of these choices in more detail. Suppose the Chicago fair