Financial Ratio Analysis
- 4c Differentiate between key financial ratios for making business decisions, including profit margin, return on equity, and debt to equity ratio (CLO 6)
- 4d Assess the implications of financial ratios for the future performance of a company (CLO 6)
Debt Ratios
Debt ratios measure the degree and effect of the firm's use of borrowed funds (debt) to finance its operations. These ratios are especially important to lenders and investors. They want to make sure the firm has a healthy mix of debt and equity. If the firm relies too much on debt, it may have trouble meeting interest payments and repaying loans. The most important debt ratio is the debt-to-equity ratio.
The debt-to-equity ratio measures the relationship between the amount of debt financing (borrowing) and the amount of equity financing (owners' funds). It is calculated by dividing total liabilities by owners' equity. In general, the lower the ratio, the better. But it is important to assess the debt-to-equity ratio against both past values and industry averages. Delicious Desserts' ratio for 2018 is 89.1 percent. The ratio indicates that the company has 89 cents of debt for every dollar the owners have provided. A ratio above 100 percent means the firm has more debt than equity. In such a case, the lenders are providing more financing than the owners.
Concept Check
- How can ratio analysis be used to interpret financial statements?
- Name the main liquidity and profitability ratios, and explain what they indicate.