Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio

Definition

The Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio is a financial metric used to determine a company’s financial leverage. It measures the proportion of a company’s assets that are financed by long-term debt, such as loans or bonds that are due in more than one year. A higher ratio means a higher degree of indebtedness in relation to total assets.

Phonetic

The phonetic pronunciation of “Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio” is:- Long-Term: lɔːŋ-tɜːrm- Debt: dɛt- to: tuː- Total: ˈtoʊtəl- Assets: ˈæsɛts- Ratio: ˈreɪʃioʊPlease note that this phonetic spelling primarily follows the American English pronunciation.

Key Takeaways

1. Indication of Financial Health: The Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio is a vital indicator of a company’s financial health. It depicts the proportion of a company’s assets funded by long-term debt. Companies with high ratios may be at risk, as a large part of their assets are financed by debt.
2. Risk Assessment Metric: This ratio is used by investors, financial analysts, and creditors to assess the company’s risk level. If the ratio is high, it means that the firm has a significant debt burden, which could make it more volatile and risky. Conversely, a lower ratio implies less risk.
3. Comparing Within Industry: The acceptable ratio greatly depends on the industry. Therefore, it’s best used when comparing companies in the same sector, as some sectors naturally require more debt financing than others.

Importance

The Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio is an important financial metric in assessing a company’s financial health and long-term solvency. It provides a measure of the extent to which a company is financed by debt with maturity longer than one year compared to its total assets. This ratio reveals the percentage of a company’s assets that are financed by long-term debt, giving an indication of the company’s leverage and risk. High levels may suggest that the company has too much debt, which could potentially lead to financial distress if it struggles to meet its debt obligations. On the other hand, very low ratios may suggest a lack of strategic use of debt in financing the company’s assets, which can also limit the company’s potential for higher return on equity. Hence, identifying a balanced ratio is crucial for assessing a company’s financial sustainability and risk profile.

Explanation

The Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio primarily serves as a statistical measure within financial analysis to give investors, creditors, or any interested stakeholders a detailed insight into a company’s financial leverage and stability. This metric is used to determine the degree to which a firm uses long term debt for financing its assets. Essentially, the primary purpose of this ratio is to assess a company’s financial risk, strength, and flexibility, as it notably reflects the proportion of a company’s assets that are financed by long-term debt.In essence, the Long-Term Debt to Total Assets Ratio is a significant tool in risk analysis, strategic decision-making, and financial management. If the ratio is high, it indicates that a significant portion of the company’s assets are financed by long-term debt, which could mean higher risk owing to potential difficulties in meeting its debt obligations. Conversely, a lower ratio suggests that the company relies less on borrowed money, implying less risk. Therefore, investors and analysts extensively utilize this ratio to understand an organization’s capital structure and evaluate its ability to repay long-term debt, which ultimately influences investment considerations and decisions.

Examples

The long-term debt to total assets ratio is a financial metric used to measure a company’s financial leverage, it tells what proportion of a company’s assets is financed by long-term debt. Here are three real world examples:1. General Electric (GE): In 2020, General Electric had a long-term debt of approximately $63.2 billion and total assets of about $266 billion. This gives a long-term debt to total assets ratio of around 0.24, which means roughly 24% of GE’s total assets were financed by long-term debt.2. Microsoft Corporation: As of 2021, Microsoft Corporation had long-term debt approximating to $50 billion and total assets around $304 billion. This results in a long-term debt to total assets ratio of 0.16; hence, 16% of the company’s assets were financed through long-term debt, indicating Microsoft’s relatively low dependence on debt financing.3. Amazon Inc.: In 2020, Amazon Inc. reported a total long-term debt of about $63.4 billion with total assets of about $321 billion. This equates to a long-term debt to total assets ratio of approximately 0.20, meaning that about 20% of Amazon’s total assets are financed by long-term debt.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Related Finance Terms

• Long-Term Liabilities
• Total Assets
• Leverage Ratio
• Financial Solvency
• Capital Structure

Sources for More Information

• Investopedia
• Corporate Finance Institute
• Ready Ratios
• Accounting Tools