Equity Multiplier: Definition, Formula & Calculation

If the company uses more debt than equity, the higher will be the financial leverage ratio. Samsung had total assets of ₩426 trillion at the end of the 2021 financial year and stockholder equity of ₩296 trillion, giving it a multiplier of 1.4. A high equity multiplier implies that a company mostly uses debt financing to purchase assets, while a low equity multiplier suggests it relies more on equity. Either way, the multiplier is relative- it’s only high or low when compared with a benchmark such as the industry standards or a company’s competitors.

In other words, the https://www.bookstime.com/ shows the percentage of assets that are financed or owed by the shareholders. Conversely, this ratio also shows the level of debt financing is used to acquire assets and maintain operations. In general, lower equity multipliers are better for investors, but this can vary between industries and companies with particular industries. In some cases, a low equity multiplier could actually indicate that the company cannot find willing lenders; or it could also signal that a company’s growth prospects are low. On the other hand, a high equity multiplier is not always a sure sign of risk. High leverage can be part of an effective growth strategy, especially if the company is able to borrow more cheaply than its cost of equity. As with all liquidity and financial leverage ratios, the equity multiplier shows how risky a company is to creditors.

FAQs About Equity Multiplier

When a firm is primarily funded using debt, it is considered highly leveraged, and therefore investors and creditors may be reluctant to advance further financing to the company. A higher asset to equity ratio shows that the current shareholders own fewer assets than the current creditors. While the equity multiplier formula measures the ratio of total assets to total shareholder’s equity, it also reflects a company’s debt holdings. This information can be found on a statement of owner’s equity. As mentioned earlier, a company can only finance purchases of new assets using equity or debt. A low equity multiplier means it funds the majority of its purchases with equity, so it must have a relatively light debt burden. If a company has a high equity multiplier, it borrows to finance purchases, so its debt burden is higher.

Investing in a company with a high EM ratio requires more emphasis on cash flows. This is because revenue will need to increase to satisfy increasing debt service charges. This is due to lower debt obligations in the business and a healthier financing structure. When looking at a company’s financials, it is vital to understand how the firm finances its current and future assets. That said, the EM ratio is still capable of providing a quick look into a company’s asset financing structure.

How to find the Equity Multiple Value?

A lower calculated number indicates lower financial leverage and vice versa. Generally, a lower equity multiplier is desired because it means a company is using less debt to fund its assets. The equity multiplier is a ratio that determines how much of a company’s assets are funded or owed by its shareholders, by comparing its total assets against total shareholder’s equity. On the other hand, the ratio also indicates how much debt financing is being used for asset acquisitions and day-to-day operations. The equity multiplier is a financial leverage ratio that determines the percentage of a company’s assets that is financed by stockholder’s equity and that which is funded by debt. Both the components can be found in the balance sheet of the company.

The equity multiplier reveals how much of the total assets are financed by shareholders’ equity. Essentially, this ratio is a risk indicator used by investors to determine how leveraged the company is. An equity multiplier is a financial leverage ratio that measures the portion of assets financed by shareholders within a company.