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Elaborate on the total profit margin

Profitability Case
New answer on Mar 25, 2024
2 Answers
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Anonymous A asked on Mar 24, 2024

Can you elaborate on the total profit margin for the chewing gum example? I'm not sure I understand how the total profit margin is decreasing from the given data. Shouldn't it stay the same?

"Therefore, total profit margins have decreased while sales have increased."

 

(edited)

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Ian
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replied on Mar 25, 2024
#1 BCG coach | MBB | Tier 2 | Digital, Tech, Platinion | 100% personal success rate (8/8) | 95% candidate success rate

Help us help you! Please point us to exactly where you mean.

I think you're referring to section 4, where they give you the formula

Profits (aggregate) can go UP, while profit margins (efficiency) goes down.

 

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Anonymous A on Mar 25, 2024

Hey, I added an image to the original question. I'm calculating the profit margin over the years. And it seems to be constant. From the text: “Analyzes show that the product whose sales have increased (flavored chewing gum) is also the one with lower margins due to the added flavor. Therefore, total profit margins have decreased while sales have increased.” I think there is an explanation missing in the text because it's confusing. Was it meant that we added another product line (flavored chewing gum) to our product mix and now the total profit margin is lower? Meaning that the idea was to compare before/after adding flavored chewing gum instead of calculating the profit margin over years?

(edited)

Ian on Mar 25, 2024

Yes that's right! Separate products with separate margins :)

Anonymous A on Mar 26, 2024

Yup, thanks! :)

Cristian
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replied on Mar 25, 2024
#1 rated MBB & McKinsey Coach

If costs increase faster than sales, the profit margin will go down. 

So even though you're earning more because you're also spending more, the profit percentage as a whole is going down. 

Hope that clarifies it!

Best,
Cristian

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Anonymous A on Mar 25, 2024

Hey, I added an image to the original question. I'm calculating profit margin over the years and it seems to be constant.

Ian gave the best answer

Ian

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