What does a debt ratio of 0.5 mean?
However, a debt ratio greater than 1 indicates high future financial risk, and a low debt ratio (usually around 0.5) means that the business has a good financial base and can be protracted.
Generally, a lower ratio is better, as it implies that the company is in less debt and is less risky for lenders and investors. A debt-to-equity ratio of 0.5 or below is considered good.
When it comes to debt-to-equity, you're looking for a low number. This is because total liabilities represents the numerator of the ratio. The more debt you have, the higher your ratio will be. A ratio of roughly 2 or 2.5 is considered good, but anything higher than that is considered unfavorable.
If the calculation yields a result greater than 1, this means the company is technically insolvent as it has more liabilities than all of its assets combined. A result of 0.5 (or 50%) means that 50% of the company's assets are financed using debt (with the other half being financed through equity).
High debt ratio: If the result is a big number (like 0.7 or 70%), it means the company owes a lot compared to what it owns. This could be risky.
It's calculated by dividing your monthly debts by your gross monthly income. Generally, it's a good idea to keep your DTI ratio below 43%, though 35% or less is considered “good.”
By calculating the ratio between your income and your debts, you get your “debt ratio.” This is something the banks are very interested in. A debt ratio below 30% is excellent. Above 40% is critical. Lenders could deny you a loan.
The bad debt to sales ratio represents the fraction of uncollectible accounts receivables in a year compared to total sales. For example, if a company's revenue is $100,000 and it's unable to collect $3,000, the bad debt to sales ratio is (3,000/100,000=0.03).
Interpreting the Debt Ratio
If the ratio is over 1, a company has more debt than assets. If the ratio is below 1, the company has more assets than debt. Broadly speaking, ratios of 60% (0.6) or more are considered high, while ratios of 40% (0.4) or less are considered low.
Most lenders hesitate to lend to someone with a debt to equity/asset ratio over 40%. Over 40% is considered a bad debt equity ratio for banks. Similarly, a good debt to asset ratio typically falls below 0.4 or 40%. This means that your total debt is less than 40% of your total assets.
What does a debt ratio of 0.45 mean?
For example, if a company's debt-to-capital ratio is 0.45, it means 45% of its capital comes from debt. In such a case, a lower ratio is preferred, as it implies that the company can pay for capital without relying so much on debt.
What is a good long-term debt ratio? A long-term debt ratio of 0.5 or less is considered a good definition to indicate the safety and security of a business.
How is a debt ratio of 0.45 interpreted? A debt ratio of 0.45 means that a firm has $0.45 of equity for every dollar of debt. A debt ratio of 0.45 means a firm has $0.45 of current liabilities for every dollar of current assets.
Key Takeaways
In general, many investors look for a company to have a debt ratio between 0.3 and 0.6. From a pure risk perspective, debt ratios of 0.4 or lower are considered better, while a debt ratio of 0.6 or higher makes it more difficult to borrow money.
Let's say a company has a debt of $250,000 but $750,000 in equity. Its debt-to-equity ratio is therefore 0.3. “It's a very low-debt company that is funded largely by shareholder assets,” says Pierre Lemieux, Director, Major Accounts, BDC.
It is discovered that the total assets number $124,000 while the liabilities are at $93,000. The debt ratio for the startup would be calculated as. $93,000/$126,000 = 0.75. That means the debt ratio is 0.75, which is highly risky. It indicates for every four assets; there are three liabilities.
A general rule of thumb is to keep your overall debt-to-income ratio at or below 43%. This is seen as a wise target because it's the maximum debt-to-income ratio at which you're eligible for a Qualified Mortgage —a type of home loan designed to be stable and borrower-friendly.
35% or less: Looking Good - Relative to your income, your debt is at a manageable level. You most likely have money left over for saving or spending after you've paid your bills. Lenders generally view a lower DTI as favorable.
35% or less is generally viewed as favorable, and your debt is manageable. You likely have money remaining after paying monthly bills. 36% to 49% means your DTI ratio is adequate, but you have room for improvement. Lenders might ask for other eligibility requirements.
DTI is one factor that can help lenders decide whether you can repay the money you have borrowed or take on more debt. A good debt-to-income ratio is below 43%, and many lenders prefer 36% or below.
How much debt is OK for a small business?
If your business debt exceeds 30 percent of your business capital, this is another signal you're carrying too much debt. The best accounting software can help you track your business debt, manage your cash flow, and better understand your business' financial situation.
The 28/36 rule dictates that you spend no more than 28 percent of your gross monthly income on housing costs and no more than 36 percent on all of your debt combined, including those housing costs.
$20,000 is a lot of credit card debt and it sounds like you're having trouble making progress,” says Rossman.
Most lenders would prefer your credit utilization to stay below 30%. This means if your limit is $1,000, you should keep the balance under $300. » Learn More: How to Increase Credit Card Limit.
Let's say your gross monthly income is $6,000. Recurring debt ($3,000) ÷ gross monthly income ($6,000) = 0.50 or 50%. That's not a good DTI. If your DTI is higher than 43% you'll have a hard time getting a mortgage or other types of loans.
