Financial leverage ratios deal with long-term solvency and the use of debt as a financing tool. When the current ratio is greater than 1, we are also saying that net working capital is positive as current assets are greater than current liabilities. Times interest earned equals EBIT divided by interest expense.
Which of the statements below is FALSE? The debt ratio is total assets minus total equity divided by equity. Financial leverage ratios deal with long-term solvency and the use of debt as a financing tool. When the current ratio is greater than 1, we are also saying that net working capital is positive as current assets are greater than current liabilities. Times interest earned equals EBIT divided by interest expense
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: The debt ratio is total assets minus total equity divided by equity.
Explanation:
The false statement is the one about the debt ratio. Let’s break it down:
1. Debt Ratio:
The correct formula for the debt ratio is:Debt Ratio=Total LiabilitiesTotal Assets\text{Debt Ratio} = \frac{\text{Total Liabilities}}{\text{Total Assets}}Debt Ratio=Total AssetsTotal Liabilities
The false statement suggests:Total Assets−Total EquityEquity\frac{\text{Total Assets} – \text{Total Equity}}{\text{Equity}}EquityTotal Assets−Total Equity
This formula does not represent the debt ratio; rather, it resembles a form of debt-to-equity ratio or some hybrid ratio. The proper debt ratio focuses on how much of a company’s assets are financed through debt. It evaluates the proportion of total assets funded by liabilities and helps assess financial risk.
2. Financial Leverage Ratios:
This statement is true. Financial leverage ratios assess the company’s ability to meet long-term obligations and indicate how much debt is used to finance operations. Common leverage ratios include the debt ratio, debt-to-equity ratio, and times interest earned.
3. Current Ratio and Net Working Capital:
This is also true. The current ratio is:Current AssetsCurrent Liabilities\frac{\text{Current Assets}}{\text{Current Liabilities}}Current LiabilitiesCurrent Assets
If the current ratio is greater than 1, it means current assets exceed current liabilities. This implies that net working capital, calculated as current assets minus current liabilities, is positive.
4. Times Interest Earned (TIE):
This is true. The TIE ratio is:EBITInterest Expense\frac{\text{EBIT}}{\text{Interest Expense}}Interest ExpenseEBIT
It shows how many times a company can cover its interest expense with its earnings before interest and taxes. A higher ratio indicates better ability to meet interest obligations.
In conclusion, the only incorrect statement concerns the formula for the debt ratio.
