What does a high degree of operating leverage (DOL) indicate regarding a company's operating income?

A high degree of operating leverage indicates that a company's operating income is highly sensitive to changes in sales revenue. This means that when sales increase, operating income will rise significantly due to the fixed costs being spread over a larger sales base. Conversely, if sales decrease, the operating income will drop sharply because those same fixed costs become a larger burden on lower sales.

This phenomenon occurs because companies with high operating leverage have a larger proportion of fixed costs relative to variable costs. Thus, even small fluctuations in sales can lead to substantial variations in operating income, demonstrating that operating leverage amplifies the effects of sales changes on profitability. Understanding this concept is essential for analyzing a company's financial health and risk, especially in volatile markets.