What does cost-volume-profit analysis examine?

Cost-volume-profit analysis fundamentally examines the impact of changes in costs and volume on operating income and net income. This method provides insight into how variations in the level of sales, production costs, and inventory levels can affect profitability. By understanding this relationship, businesses can make informed operational and strategic decisions, such as setting sales targets, determining pricing strategies, and evaluating the feasibility of product lines.

This analysis involves calculating break-even points, understanding contribution margins, and assessing the influence of fixed and variable costs on profit levels. By analyzing these variables, companies can forecast how changes in sales volume will translate to profit and identify the sales levels required to cover costs, thereby supporting effective financial planning and decision-making.

The other options, while related to aspects of business finance, do not specifically focus on the interactive dynamics of costs, volume, and profit, which is the core purpose of cost-volume-profit analysis.