Question

Differential Analysis for a Lease or Buy Decision Sloan Corporation is considering new equipment. The equipment can be purchased from an overseas supplier for $125,500. The freight and installation costs for the equipment are $1,600. If purchased, annual repairs and maintenance are estimated to be $2,500 per year over the five-year useful life of the equipment. Alternatively, Sloan can lease the equipment from a domestic supplier for $30,000 per year for five years, with no additional costs. Prepare a differential analysis dated December 3 to determine whether Sloan should lease (Alternative 1) or purchase (Alternative 2) the equipment. Hint: This is a "lease or buy" decision, which must be analyzed from the perspective of the equipment user, as opposed to the equipment owner. If an amount is zero, enter "0". Use a minus sign to indicate a loss.

Answer 1

Answer:

Alternative 2 (purchase equipment) should be selected because it reduces costs by $10,400.

Explanation:

Alternative 1 (lease):

less price per year $30,000 x 5 years = $150,000

Alternative 2 (purchase):

initial investment = $125,500 + $1,600 = $127,100

maintenance cost per year = $2,500 x 5 years = $12,500

                  Differential Analysis

                                              alternative 1      alternative 2     differential

                                              lease                 purchase          effect

Revenues                             $0                      $0                    $0

Costs:    

Purchase price                     $0                -$125,500         -$125,000

Freight and installation      $0                    -$1,600              -$1,600  

Repair and maintenance          $0                   -$12,500           -$12,500

(5 years)    

Lease                                    -$150,000                 $0              $150,000

(5 years)    

Income / loss                       -$150,000           -$139,600           $10,400

Alternative 2 (purchase equipment) should be selected because it reduces costs by $10,400.