Debt or Equity? By Professor Jonathan Welch
Characteristics of Debt and Equity Maturity Date Claim On Earnings Claim On Assets Voice In Management Investor Risk Company Risk Company Cost Yes Prior Fixed Legal Prior Impose Restrictions Low High Low Debt Common Equity No Residual Elect Directors High Low High
Financial Structure - Theory WACC MV of Debt & Equity Debt Ratio
Financial Structure Check List - Practical Business Risk Comparative Ratio Analysis Ability to Service Debt – Cash Budget Credit and Bond Rating ( EPS, P/E, Pc Impacts Flexibility, and Future Financing Timing Ownership and Control Personal Wealth Effect Trial and Error
Average Ratios for Various Ratings of Industrial Co’s Pre-tax Interest Coverage Debt to Capital Total Debt to Equity Working Capital to L.T.D. Cash Flow to LT Debt Current ratio Pre-tax Margin ROE Pre-tax ROC Cash Flow to Cap. Expenditures % 94% 160% 199% % 17.1% 29.2% 1 8% % 114% 87% 91% % 18% 29.7% 111% % 124% 88% 49% % 14% 18.1% 111% % 129% 95% 34% % 11% 15.6% 98% AAA/AaaAA/AaA/aBBB/Baa Source: Merrill Lynch, “Fixed Income Research”