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Total Debt

A critical metric on a company's balance sheet, representing the sum of all its financial obligations.

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Written by Support
Updated over a week ago

On platforms like Dividend Data, you can find Total Debt for stocks. This helps you make informed investment decisions.

Definition:

Total Debt includes all of a company’s liabilities that require future payments, encompassing both short-term and long-term borrowings. It's a comprehensive measure of the total amount owed by a company to creditors.

Components of Total Debt

Total Debt is generally composed of:

  1. Short-Term Debt: Obligations due within the next year, such as lines of credit, short-term loans, and current portions of long-term debt.

  2. Long-Term Debt: Borrowings and financial obligations due beyond one year, including bonds, long-term loans, and lease obligations.

Importance of Total Debt in Financial Analysis

  1. Leverage Assessment: Helps determine how much a company relies on debt to finance its operations.

  2. Risk Evaluation: High levels of debt can indicate higher financial risk and potential solvency issues.

  3. Debt Servicing Capability: Analyzing Total Debt in relation to cash flow and earnings provides insights into a company's ability to service its debt.

Total Debt in Financial Ratios

  • Debt-to-Equity Ratio: Evaluates the proportion of debt financing relative to shareholder equity.

  • Debt-to-Asset Ratio: Assesses how much of a company's assets are financed through debt.

Analyzing Total Debt

  1. Debt Structure: Understanding the mix of short-term and long-term debt can reveal insights into a company’s financial strategy and liquidity.

  2. Industry Comparisons: Benchmarking Total Debt against industry peers helps assess relative financial stability.

  3. Historical Trends: Tracking changes in Total Debt over time can indicate shifts in a company's financial management and risk profile.

Factors Influencing Total Debt

  1. Capital Needs: Expansion and growth initiatives often require substantial financing, impacting debt levels.

  2. Interest Rates: The cost of borrowing and refinancing decisions are influenced by prevailing interest rates.

  3. Economic Conditions: Broader economic factors can affect a company’s need and ability to take on debt.

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