5. Illinois Tool Company's (ITC) fixed operating costs are $1,260,000 and its variable cost ratio (ie... variable costs as a fraction of sales) is 0.70. The firm has $3,000,000 in bonds outstanding at an interest rate of 8 percent. ITC has 30,000 shares of $5 preferred stock and 150,000 shares of common stock outstanding. ITC is in the 50 percent corporate income tax bracket. Forecasted sales for next year are $9 million. What is ITC's degree of operating leverage at a sales level of $9 million? a. 1.60 b. 1.875 c. 3.0 d. 1.26