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The remaining long-term debt is used in the numerator of the long-term-debt-to-equity ratio. A similar ratio is debt-to-capital (D/C), where capital is the sum of debt and equity: D/C = total liabilities / total capital = debt / debt + equity The relationship between D/E and D/C is: D/C = D / D+E = D/E / 1 + D/E
The issue of equity, on the other hand, would signal some lack of confidence, or at least that the share is over-valued. An issue of equity may then lead to a drop in share price. (This does not however apply to high-tech industries where the issue of equity is preferable, due to the high cost of debt issue as assets are intangible. [4])
A very common leverage ratio used for financial statement analysis is the debt-to-equity ratio. This ratio shows the extent to which management is willing to use debt in order to fund operations. This ratio is calculated as: (Long-term debt + Short-term debt + Leases)/ Equity. [7]
A higher debt-to-equity ratio leads to a higher required return on equity, because of the higher risk involved for equity-holders in a company with debt. The formula is derived from the theory of weighted average cost of capital (WACC).
The total-debt-to-total-assets ratio is one of many financial metrics used to measure a company’s performance. In this case, the ratio shows how much of a company’s operations are funded by debt.
It is important that a company's management recognizes the risk inherent in taking on debt, and maintains an optimal capital structure with an appropriate balance between debt and equity. [9] An optimal capital structure is one that is consistent with minimizing the cost of debt and equity financing and maximizing the value of the firm.
A ratio's values may be distorted as account balances change from the beginning to the end of an accounting period. Use average values for such accounts whenever possible. Financial ratios are no more objective than the accounting methods employed. Changes in accounting policies or choices can yield drastically different ratio values. [6]
The debt/equity hypothesis states that managers will tend to show better profits (similar to the bonus plan/management compensation hypothesis) with the intention of having a better performance and liquidity position to pay the interest and principal of the debt they have accumulated in the business. [3] The higher the debt/equity level the ...