Leverage: Definition
Leverage refers to the use of an asset or source of funds for which the enterprise has to pay a fixed cost or fixed return.
In other words, it refers to a relationship between two variables. Such variables include cost, output, sales, revenue, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), or earnings per share (EPS), among others.
Leverage: Explanation
Financing decisions are based on two important aspects:
- Amount of funds needed
- Fundraising method (e.g., deciding on the sources or their combinations)
If an enterprise can estimate how much capital is needed, the next task is to determine the optimal mix of fundraising sources. This process is called capital structure planning.
Generally, two techniques are widely used in capital structure planning:
- Leverage analysis
- EBIT-EPS analysis
What Is Leverage Analysis?
In leverage analysis, the emphasis is on measuring the relationships between two variables rather than the variables themselves.
For leverage analysis to serve a useful purpose, the two variables for which the relationship is to be established and measured should be interrelated. If the variables are not interrelated, leverage analysis won’t serve a purpose.
Leverage may be analyzed in the following way: namely, as the percentage change in the variable divided by the percentage change in some other variable. Here, the numerator is the dependant variable and the denominator is the independent variable.
Example
Suppose that a company boosts its advertising expenses from $100,000 to $120,000. This is an increase of 20%.
Due to the advertising spend, the company increased its units sold from 500 to 750 units, representing an increase of 50%.
In this example, leverage is calculated as:
Here, the percentage increase in the number of units sold is 2.5 times that of the percentage increase in advertising expenses. This illustrates that the leverage is favorable.
In particular, it means that a lower percentage increase in the variable cost has resulted in a higher percentage increase in sales, which is bound to enhance earnings.
This reflects that the operating profit of an enterprise is directly influenced by sales revenue.
What Is Favorable and Unfavorable Leverage?
Favorable leverage means that the sum of earnings before interest and taxes exceeds the fixed return requirement. In other words, the total of earnings less variable costs is greater than fixed costs.
If the value of earnings less variable costs falls below fixed costs, the leverage is considered to be unfavorable.
EBIT-EPS Analysis
Operating profit determines the profit available to shareholders. This is illustrated in the table below.
Note: Earnings after tax is available to equity shareholders for distribution.
Thus, earnings per share (EPS) = Profit after tax / No. of shares eligible for distribution of profit to shareholders.
The statement illustrated above shows the functional relationship between sales revenue and EPS, which is established through operating profits (EBIT).
Most Commonly Used Leverages
A company’s managers aim to maximize shareholder wealth, which means it is necessary to maximize the market price of shares by heightening EPS. Thus, leverage helps management make decisions in this regard.
The most commonly used leverages are:
In some cases, managers may use combined leverage.
How to Evaluate the Result of Leverages
1. High operating leverage and high financial leverage: This situation suggests high risk. Any slight change in sales or contribution may affect the EPS to a large extent. Managers should avoid such situations.
2. High operating leverage and low financial leverage: In this situation, the existence of high fixed costs may affect EBIT, if there is a slight decrease in sales or contribution. This slight change may be addressed with low-cost debt.
3. Low operating leverage and high financing leverage: This situation is potentially ideal because the company has risked borrowing more debt capital to increase EPS.
Any slight decrease in sales or contribution may not affect EBIT to a large extent, given that the component of fixed cost is negligible in the cost structure.
4. Low operating leverage and low financial leverage: This situation indicates that managers are following a very cautious policy. This is also known as the policy of contentment.
Any slight decrease in sales or contribution may not affect the EBIT to a large extent because the fixed cost component is negligible in the overall cost structure. Also, the manager has not taken a significant risk in formulating the capital structure.
5. Combined leverage: When making decisions based on combined leverage, managers should be cautious to note the influence of operating and financial leverages.
If the influence of the financial leverage is slightly high, the result of the combined leverage may be taken for a positive decision.
However, managers should apply leverage analysis based on the company’s ability to take risks to maximize shareholder wealth, reduce the cost structure, and enhance EBIT. Managers should not only be influenced by the high EPS rates.
Important Formulas Used in Leverage Analysis: At a Glance
Operating leverage = Contribution / EBIT
Degree of operating leverage (DOL) = % Change in EBIT / % Change in sales revenue
Financial leverage (FL) = EBIT / EBIT – I
Alternatively,
FL = EBIT / EBT
Alternatively,
FL = EBIT / (EBIT – Financial charges)
If the company uses preference shares in its capital structure, preference dividends should also be included in the finance charge. Under such circumstances, financial leverage is calculated as:
FL = EBIT / (EBIT – D ÷ (1 – t))
Note: If preference dividend is attracted by dividend tax, such tax should be added to preference dividend.
Degree of FL = % Change in EPS / % Change in EBIT
Total or composite or combined leverage = OL x FL
Alternatively,
CL = (Contribution / EBIT) x (EBIT / EBT) = Contribution / EBT