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Multiple Choice
Financial leverage is best measured by which of the following ratios?
A
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
B
Inventory Turnover Ratio
C
Gross Profit Margin
D
Current Ratio
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of financial leverage: Financial leverage refers to the use of debt to acquire additional assets. It is a measure of how much a company relies on borrowed funds compared to its own equity.
Identify the ratio that directly measures financial leverage: The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is the most relevant ratio for assessing financial leverage because it compares the total debt of a company to its shareholders' equity.
Clarify why other ratios are not suitable: Inventory Turnover Ratio measures how efficiently inventory is managed, Gross Profit Margin evaluates profitability, and Current Ratio assesses short-term liquidity. None of these directly measure financial leverage.
Express the Debt-to-Equity Ratio formula: The formula is \( \text{Debt-to-Equity Ratio} = \frac{\text{Total Liabilities}}{\text{Shareholders' Equity}} \). This ratio indicates the proportion of debt used relative to equity.
Conclude the reasoning: Since financial leverage is best measured by the proportion of debt to equity, the Debt-to-Equity Ratio is the correct answer.