What is difference between equity and debt?
Debt financing refers to taking out a conventional loan through a traditional lender like a bank. Equity financing involves securing capital in exchange for a percentage of ownership in the business.
In general, if your debt-to-equity ratio is too high, it's a signal that your company may be in financial distress and unable to pay your debtors. But if it's too low, it's a sign that your company is over-relying on equity to finance your business, which can be costly and inefficient.
Since Debt is almost always cheaper than Equity, Debt is almost always the answer. Debt is cheaper than Equity because interest paid on Debt is tax-deductible, and lenders' expected returns are lower than those of equity investors (shareholders). The risk and potential returns of Debt are both lower.
Equity securities are financial assets that represent shares of a corporation. Debt securities are financial assets that define the terms of a loan between an issuer (borrower) and an investor (lender).
With debt finance you're required to repay the money plus interest over a set period of time, typically in monthly instalments. Equity finance, on the other hand, carries no repayment obligation, so more money can be channelled into growing your business.
Debt financing involves the borrowing of money whereas equity financing involves selling a portion of equity in the company. The main advantage of equity financing is that there is no obligation to repay the money acquired through it.
Still, as a general rule of thumb, most companies aim for an equity ratio of around 50%. Companies with ratios ranging around 50% to 80% tend to be considered “conservative”, while those with ratios between 20% and 40% are considered “leveraged”.
Generally, debt funds are considered safer than equity funds because they primarily invest in fixed-income securities with lower volatility. However, the level of safety depends on the credit quality and maturity of the underlying securities.
Debt provides an opportunity to extend your cash runway between raise rounds. If your burn rate leaves you without enough time and funds until more capital can be raised, debt is a worthwhile consideration. Working to increase sales and reduce expenses is also worthwhile, but results are not guaranteed.
Equity should be used for financing when the risk of not being able to service debt (payment of principal and interest) is high. If you can't repay, don't borrow! The greater the business risk makes equity the better choice for financing. This is the reason why start-ups are typically financed with equity.
What is a good return on equity?
While average ratios, as well as those considered “good” and “bad”, can vary substantially from sector to sector, a return on equity ratio of 15% to 20% is usually considered good.
Ask a CFO or an academic in finance and you would get a different answer. Indeed, debt has a real cost to it, the interest payable. But equity has a hidden cost, the financial return shareholders expect to make. This hidden cost of equity is higher than that of debt since equity is a riskier investment.
Debt financing is generally considered to be less risky than equity financing because lenders have a legal right to be repaid. However, equity investors have the potential to earn higher returns if the company is successful. The level of risk and return associated with debt and equity financing varies.
Equity is the difference between what you owe on your mortgage and what your home is currently worth. If you owe $150,000 on your mortgage loan and your home is worth $200,000, you have $50,000 of equity in your home.
Debt is cheaper, but the company must pay it back. Equity does not need to be repaid, but it generally costs more than debt capital due to the tax advantages of interest payments. Since the cost of equity is higher than debt, it generally provides a higher rate of return.
Debt financing may have more long-term financial benefits than equity financing. With equity financing, investors will be entitled to profits, and if you sell the company, they'll get some of the proceeds too. This reduces the amount of money you could earn by owning the company outright.
You can repay a loan by swapping the debt for equity shares, giving the investor a proportionate ownership of the business equal to their investment. Consider paying dividends to your stockholders. Dividends would be cash payments made to shareholders and would be paid from the company's net income.
Your equity is the share of your home that you own versus what you owe on your mortgage. For example, if your home is worth $300,000 and you have a mortgage balance of $150,000, then you have equity of $150,000, or 50 percent.
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.
Debt that helps put you in a better position may be considered "good debt." Borrowing to invest in a small business, education, or real estate is generally considered “good debt,” because you are investing the money you borrow in an asset that will improve your overall financial picture.
Is a 40% debt-to-equity ratio good?
A debt ratio between 30% and 36% is also considered good. It's when you're approaching 40% that you have to be very, very vigilant. With a threshold like that, you're a greater risk to lenders. You may already be having trouble making your payments each month.
High-interest loans -- which could include payday loans or unsecured personal loans -- can be considered bad debt, as the high interest payments can be difficult for the borrower to pay back, often putting them in a worse financial situation.
What is a Blue Chip Fund? A blue chip fund invests in stocks / shares of well-established companies with credible track records of financial performance that includes among other criteria - a steady payout of dividends and profitability over the years.
Some examples include: Business Loans: Debt taken to expand a business by purchasing equipment, real estate, hiring more staff, etc. The expanded operations generate additional income that can cover the loan payments. Mortgages: Borrowed money used to purchase real estate that will generate rental income.
Tesla's total debt hit its 5-year low in December 2022 of 5.748 billion. Tesla's total debt decreased in 2020 (13.337 billion, -8.5%), 2021 (8.873 billion, -33.5%), and 2022 (5.748 billion, -35.2%) and increased in 2019 (14.576 billion, +5.4%) and 2023 (9.573 billion, +66.5%).
