LEVERAGES
The term ‘Leverage’ in general refers to a relationship between two interrelated variables. In financial analysis it represents the influence of one financial variable over some other related financial variable. Variables may be costs, output, sales, EBIT, EPS, etc.
Commonly used measures of leverage in Financial Analysis are:
1. Operating Leverage
2. Financial Leverage
3. Combined Leverage
Leverage provides the framework for financing decisions of a firm. It may be defined as the employment of an asset or source of funds for which the firm has to pay a fixed cost, or fixed return.
The best mixture of source of funds decides about the capital structure of the firm. The desired structure of the funds influences the shareholder’s return and risk.
Leverage analysis is the technique used by business firms to quantify a risk-return relationship of different alternative capital structure.
IMPACT OF LEVERAGE ON CAPITAL TURNOVER AND WORKING CAPITAL
An increase in sales improves net profit ratio, raising ROI to a higher level. Raise in Capital Turnover must be supported by adequate capital base. Normally, as Capital Turnover ratio increases, Working Capital ratio deteriorates.
When turnover / activity increases without corresponding rise in Working Capital, the Working Capital becomes tight.
OPERATING LEVERAGE
Refers to the extent to which the firm has fixed operating costs. A firm with high operating leverage will have relatively high fixed costs in comparison with a firm with low operating leverage.
%Change in EBIT Or Increase in EBIT
DOL = % Change in Sales EBIT______
Increase in Sales
Sales
= (Sales – V)
EBIT
“Firms ability to use fixed operating costs to magnify effects of changes in sales on its earnings before increase and taxes”.
Increase or Decrease in sales level effects change EBIT. The effect of change in sales on the level of EBIT is measured by operating leverage.
Operating Leverage occurs – when a firm has fixed costs, which must be met regardless of volume of sales. When the firm, has fixed costs, the % change in profits due to change in sales level in greater than the % change in sales.
The operating Leverage of 1.2 means that 1% increase in sales would result into 1.2% increase in operating profit.
Percent increase in EBIT is (48%) and percent increase in sales in (40%). It means that for every increase of 1% in sales level, the % increase in EBIT would be 1.2 times – 48/40.
If no fixed costs – TC is VC. EBIT varies in Direct proportion to sales.
SIGNIFICANCE OF OPERATING LEVERAGE
It tells the impact of changes in sales on operating Income. A concern having higher D.O.L. can experience a magnified effect on EBIT, for even a small change in Sales level can dramatically change / effect operating profit. If operating leverage is high, it means that break -even point will be reached at a higher level of sales and the margin safety is low.
FINANCIAL LEVERAGE
Finance Leverage is related to the financing activities of the firm. It results from the presence of fixed financial charge.
Financial leverage is defined as the ability of a firm to use fixed financial changes to magnify the effect of changes in EBIT/Operating profits, on the firms EPS.
Financial leverage refers to the extent to which the firm has fixed financing costs arising from the use of debt capital.
A firm with high financial leverage will have relatively high fixed financing costs compared to a firm with low financial leverage.
Fixed finance changes do not vary with EBIT. Have to be paid regardless of amount of EBIT available. Balance belongs to shareholders.
The effect of changes is operating profit. EBIT on the level of EPS is measured by FL.
% changes in EPS Or Increase in EPS/EPS
% change in EBIT Increase in EBIT/EBIT.
The FL is favourable when the firms earns more on the investment/assets financed by the sources having fixed charges. Shareholders gain in a situation where the company earns a high rate of return and pays a lower rate of return to the supplier of long-term funds. FL is such easer is also called “Trading on Equity”.
COMBINED LEVERAGE
The Combined Leverage measures the effect of a % change in sales on % change in EPS.
C.L = OL x FL
= % Change in EBIT X % Change in EPS
% Change in Sales % Change in EBIT
= % Change in E.P.S.
% Change in Sales
It indicates the effect that sales changes will have on EPS.
SIGNIFICANCE OF COMBINED LEVERAGE
The ratio of contribution to EBT, given by CL shows the combined effect of FL and OL.
A high Operating and Financial Leverage Combination is very risky. If the company is producing and selling at a high level, it will make extremely high profit for it and shareholders. But even a small fall in the level of operation would result in tremendous fall in EPS. Proper Balance should be maintained.
A high OL and low FL indicate that management is careful since the higher amount of risk involved in high OL has been sought to be balanced by low FL. Preferable situation will be low OL and high FL. Low FL results in equivalent B-E sales”.
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