Financial CMA Exam Questions
Certified Management Accountant (Page 24 )

Updated On: 10-Mar-2026
View Related Case Study

Whatney Co. is considering the acquisition of a new, more efficient press. The cost of the press is $360,000, and the press has an estimated 6-year life with zero salvage value. Whatney uses straight-line depreciation for both financial reporting and income tax reporting purposes and has a 40% corporate income tax rate. In evaluating equipment acquisitions of this Pjpe, Whatney uses a goal of a 4-year payback period. To meet Whatney's desired payback period, the press must produce a minimum annual before-tax operating cash savings of

  1. $90,000
  2. $110,000
  3. $114,000
  4. $150,000

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Payback is the number of years required to complete the return of the original Investment. Given a periodic constant cash flow, the payback period equals net investment divided by the constant expected periodic after-tax cash flow. The desired payback period is 4 years, so the constant after-tax annual cash flow must be $90,000 ($360,000 + 4). Assuming that the company has sufficient other income to permit realization of the full tax savings, depreciation of the machine will shield $60,000 ($360,000 + 6) of income from taxation each year, an after-tax cash savings of $24,000 ($60,000 x 40%). Thus, the machine must generate an additional $66,000 ($90,000 -- $24,000) of after-tax cash %avings from operations. This amount is equivalent to $110,000 [$66,000 + (1.0-- .4)] of before-tax operating cash savings.



View Related Case Study

The Dickins Corporation is considering the acquisition of a new machine at a cost of $180,000. Transporting the machine to Dickenss' plant will cost $12,000. Installing the machine will cost an additional $18,000. It has a 10-year life and is expected to have a salvage value of $10,000. Further more, the machine is expected to produce 4,000 units per year with a selling price of $500 and combined direct materials and direct labor costs of $450 per unit. Eederal tax regulations permit machines of this type to be depreciated using the straight-line method over 5 years with no estimated salvage value. Dickins has a marginal tax rate of 40%. What is the approximate payback period on Dickins' new machine?

  1. 1.05years.
  2. 1.S4years.
  3. 1.33years.
  4. 2.22 years.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

When annual cash inflows are uniform, the payback period is calculated by dividing the initial investment ($210,000) by the annual net cash inflows ($136,800). Dividing $210,000 by $136,800 produces a payback period of 1.54 years.



View Related Case Study

Fitzgerald Company is planning to acquire a $250,000 machine that will provide increased efficiencies, thereby reducing annual operating costs by $80,000. The machine will be depreciated by the straight-line method over a 5-year life with no salvage value at the end of 5 years. Assuming a 40% income tax rate, the machine's payback period is

  1. 3l3years.
  2. 8.33 years.
  3. 3.68 years.
  4. 5.21 years.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The payback period is the number of years required to complete the return of the original investment. This measure is computed by dividing the net investment required by the average expected net cash inflow to be generated. The first step is to determine the annual cash flow. The $80,000 cost reduction will be offset by the tax expense on the savings. The full $80,000, however, will not be taxable because depreciation can be deducted before computing income taxes. Allocating the $250,000 cost evenly over 5 years produces an annual depreciation expense of $50000. Thus, taxable income will be $30,000 ($80,000 -- $50,000). At a 40% tax rate, the tax on $30,000 is $12,000. The net annual cash inflow is therefore $68,000 ($80,000-- $12,000), and the payback period is 3.68 years ($250,000 investment + $68,000).



View Related Case Study

When ranking two mutually exclusive investments with different initial amounts, management should give first priority to the project

  1. That generates cash flows for the longer period of time.
  2. Whose net after-tax flows equal the initial investment?
  3. That has the greater accounting rate of return.
  4. That has the greater profitability index.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The profitability (excess present value) index facilitates the comparison of investments that have different initial costs. The profitability index equals the present value of future net cash inflows divided by the initial cash investment. The investment with the greater profitability index will be the preferred investment. However, if investments are mutually exclusive, the net present value method may be the better way of ranking projects. The excess present value index indicates the best return per dollar invested but does not consider the alternative possibilities for unused funds. Thus, the smaller of the mutually exclusive projects may have the higher index, but the incremental investment in the larger project may make it the better choice. For example, an $8,000,000 project may be a better use of funds than a combination of a $6,000,000 project with a higher index and the best alternative use of the remaining $2,000,000.



View Related Case Study

The bailout payback method

  1. Is used by firms with federally insured loans.
  2. Calculates the payback period using the sum of the net cash flows and the salvage value.
  3. Calculates the payback period using the difference between net cash inflow and the salvage value.
  4. Estimates short-term profit ability.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The bailout payback period is the length of time required for the sum of the cumulative net cash inflow from an investment and its salvage value to equal the original investment. The bailout payback method measures 11the risk to the investor if the investment must be abandoned. The shorter the period, the lower the risk.



Viewing page 24 of 270
Viewing questions 116 - 120 out of 1336 questions



Post your Comments and Discuss Financial CMA exam dumps with other Community members:

CMA Exam Discussions & Posts

AI Tutor