Exercise 12-17 Dropping or Retaining a Segment [LO12-2] Bed & Bath, a retailing company, has two departments-Hardware and Linens. The company's most recent monthly contribution format income statement follows: Department Total Hardware Linens $4,120,000 $ 3,100,000 $ 1,020, 000 1,414,000 Sales Variable expenses 999,000 415,000 Contribution margin 2,706,000 2,101,000 605,000 Fixed expenses 1,360,000 2,200,000 840,000 741,000 (235,000) S 506,000 $ Net operating income (loss ) A study indicates that $378,000 of the fixed expenses being charged to Linens are sunk costs or allocated costs that will continue even if the Linens Department is dropped. In addition, the elimination of the Linens Department will result in a 12% decrease in the sales of the Hardware Department Required: What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of discontinuing the Linens Department