Final answer:
John Company's gross margin for the most recent period is calculated by subtracting the Cost of Goods Sold ($7,000) from the sales ($26,000), resulting in a gross margin of $19,000. The correct option is: a) $19,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate John Company's gross margin for the most recent period, we subtract the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) from the sales. In this case, John Company recorded sales of $26,000 and a COGS of $7,000.
The formula to calculate gross margin is:
Gross Margin = Sales - Cost of Goods Sold
Therefore:
Gross Margin = $26,000 - $7,000 = $19,000.
So, the correct answer to the question is a) $19,000.