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A high degree of financial leverage means the benefits from tax-deductibility of interest(from additional debt) is more than offset by the increase in financial distress. The firm's fixed obligations are higher and the risk of a likely default is increased with a higher Debt to Equity ratio.

There isn't any set out formula that sets the optimal leverage for a firm...but at some some point taking on more debt, with increases the risk anf thus the return of Equity holders further increases the risk of bondholders and creditors to the firm. Any default in payments leads to distress including bankruptcy, more financial burdens to fight off or succomb to bankruptcy, lower value of firms residual assets allocated to Equityholders and likelihood of the firm shotting down.

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A high Degree Of Operating Leverage means?

A high Degree of Operating Leverage (DOL) indicates that a company has a larger proportion of fixed costs relative to variable costs in its cost structure. This means that small changes in sales can lead to significant changes in operating income, amplifying both profits and losses. Therefore, while a high DOL can enhance profitability during periods of strong sales growth, it also increases financial risk during downturns. Companies with high DOL must manage their sales volumes carefully to maintain profitability.


What was Lehman brothers leverage ratio?

Lehman Brothers had a leverage ratio of approximately 30:1 at the time of its collapse in September 2008. This high leverage meant that for every dollar of equity, the firm had $30 in debt, significantly increasing its risk exposure. The excessive leverage contributed to its inability to withstand the financial crisis, ultimately leading to its bankruptcy, which was a pivotal moment in the 2008 financial crisis.


What is the use of high leverage end cutting?

The use of high leverage end cutting is for turning an object.


What is the financial leverage multiplier?

The leverage multiplier equals to total asset dividing by shareholders' equity. The high leverage multiplier indicates that the firms decide to overcome the high levels of borrowing or debt on which it must pay interest. The higher ratio means higher liability than its shareholders' equity. Essentially, the ratio is mainly used to help firms making decision about how to raise funds by undertaking debts. A company will only undertake significant amounts of debt when it believes that return on assets (ROA) will be higher than the interest on the loan.


What is financial leverage ratio?

Leverage is using debt to finance investments.Leverage ratio is the ratio between the size of the debt and some metric for the value of the investment.There are several financial leverage ratios, for companies the debt-to-equity ratio is the most common one: Total debt / shareholder equity.As an example we can use the debt-to-equity ratio for a home with a market value of $110,000 and a mortgage of $100,000: Debt is $100,000 and equity is $10,000 (market value minus debt), giving a debt-to-equity ratio of 100,000/10,000 = 10.The general idea is that very low leverage means that a company isn't growing as quickly as it could, while a very high leverage means that a company is vulnerable to temporary setbacks in sales or increases in interest rate.What is considered a 'good' ratio varies quite a bit between different types of business.See also related links.

Related Questions

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a high leverage ratio?

disadvantages of a high leverage ratio in financial crisis


Is high financial leverage always bad?

No


Can all types of companies maintain a high financial leverage in their capital structure?

No Company is defined by rules which they WANT to operate. Companies have to be worthwhile for someone/thing to lend them money. What company makes money on does not matter much though, like food, computer, service,bank etc.


Forex Brokers With High Leverage?

Forex Brokers With High Leverage


What is the use of high leverage end cutting?

The use of high leverage end cutting is for turning an object.


What is the financial leverage multiplier?

The leverage multiplier equals to total asset dividing by shareholders' equity. The high leverage multiplier indicates that the firms decide to overcome the high levels of borrowing or debt on which it must pay interest. The higher ratio means higher liability than its shareholders' equity. Essentially, the ratio is mainly used to help firms making decision about how to raise funds by undertaking debts. A company will only undertake significant amounts of debt when it believes that return on assets (ROA) will be higher than the interest on the loan.


What is Financial leverage multiplier?

The leverage multiplier equals to total asset dividing by shareholders' equity. The high leverage multiplier indicates that the firms decide to overcome the high levels of borrowing or debt on which it must pay interest. The higher ratio means higher liability than its shareholders' equity. Essentially, the ratio is mainly used to help firms making decision about how to raise funds by undertaking debts. A company will only undertake significant amounts of debt when it believes that return on assets (ROA) will be higher than the interest on the loan.


What is financial leverage ratio?

Leverage is using debt to finance investments.Leverage ratio is the ratio between the size of the debt and some metric for the value of the investment.There are several financial leverage ratios, for companies the debt-to-equity ratio is the most common one: Total debt / shareholder equity.As an example we can use the debt-to-equity ratio for a home with a market value of $110,000 and a mortgage of $100,000: Debt is $100,000 and equity is $10,000 (market value minus debt), giving a debt-to-equity ratio of 100,000/10,000 = 10.The general idea is that very low leverage means that a company isn't growing as quickly as it could, while a very high leverage means that a company is vulnerable to temporary setbacks in sales or increases in interest rate.What is considered a 'good' ratio varies quite a bit between different types of business.See also related links.


What is the Use of financial leverage?

Financial leverage means the use of borrowed money to increase production volume, and thus sales and earnings.It is measured as the ratio of total debt to total assets. The greater the amount of debt, the greater the financial leverage.Since interest is a fixed cost (which can be written off against revenue) a loan allows an organization to generate more earnings without a corresponding increase in the equity capital requiring increased dividend payments(which cannot be written off against the earnings).However, while high leverage may be beneficial in boom periods, it may cause serious cash flow problems in recessionary periods because there might not be enough sales revenue to cover the interest payments.Called gearing in UK.


How would the overuse of financial leverage be detrimental to a firm?

Overuse of financial leverage can significantly increase a firm's risk, as it amplifies both potential returns and losses. High levels of debt can lead to financial distress, making it difficult for the firm to meet its obligations during downturns or periods of reduced cash flow. Additionally, excessive leverage may limit a firm's flexibility to invest in growth opportunities, as more resources are tied up in servicing debt. Ultimately, this can undermine long-term stability and investor confidence.


What is considered a high debt to equity ratio in financial analysis?

A high debt to equity ratio in financial analysis is typically considered to be above 2.0. This means that a company has a high level of debt relative to its equity, which can indicate higher financial risk.


What are some potential negative consequences of high leverage?

High leverage can lead to increased financial risk, as companies may struggle to meet debt obligations during downturns, potentially resulting in bankruptcy. It can also limit a firm's operational flexibility, as significant portions of cash flow must be allocated to servicing debt rather than reinvested in growth opportunities. Additionally, high leverage may negatively impact a company's credit rating, leading to higher borrowing costs in the future.