c. If the debt/assets ratio decreases, the TIE ratio will also decrease.
d. The debt/assets ratio will always be equal to the TIE ratio.
e. The debt/assets ratio and the TIE ratio are not related to each other.
43. What is the formula for calculating the times-interest earned (TIE) ratio?
a. TIE ratio = Interest charges ÷ Total liabilities
b. TIE ratio = Earnings per share ÷ Interest charges
c. TIE ratio = Sales ÷ Interest charges
d. TIE ratio = Earnings before interest and taxes ÷ Interest charges
e. TIE ratio = Interest charges ÷ Net income
44. Which of the following statements concerning a firm’s times-interest earned (TIE) ratio is correct?
a. Generally the lower its TIE ratio, the higher the probability that the firm will default on its debt.
b. The TIE ratio is calculated by dividing net income by interest charges.
c. The TIE ratio increases if the debt/assets ratio increases, and vice versa.
d. The TIE ratio is always greater than 1.
e. The TIE ratio shows the effects of both operating leverage and financial leverage.
45. A times-interest-earned (TIE) ratio that is less than 1 suggests that a firm _____.
a. is using a low proportion of debt financing in its capital structure
b. has a low probability of defaulting on its loans
c. might not be able to meet its annual interest obligations on its debt
d. is financed with equity only
e. has an extremely low debt/assets ratio
46. This year, Ferro Inc. generated sales of $10 million. Its fixed operating cost is $1 million and its variable cost ratio is
30 percent of sales. Ferro has $60 million of debt outstanding with a before-tax cost of 12 percent. Which of the following
statements about Ferro’s times interest earned (TIE) ratio is correct?
a. Ferro’s TIE ratio is 1.20, which suggests it has enough earnings to meet the required interest payments.
b. Ferro’s TIE ratio is 0.83, which suggests it does not have enough earnings to meet the required interest payments.
c. Ferro’s TIE ratio is 0.83, which suggests it has enough earnings to meet the required interest payments.
d. Ferro’s TIE ratio is 1.39, which suggests it does not have enough earnings to meet the required interest payments.
e. Ferro’s TIE ratio is 1.00, which suggests it has just enough earnings to meet the required interest payments.
47. According to the basic capital structure theory proposed by Modigliani and Miller (MM), when will a firm’s value be
maximum?
a. When it is financed entirely with equity.
b. When its capital structure contains 50 percent debt and 50 percent equity.
c. When it is financed entirely with retained earnings.
d. When it is financed with almost 100 percent through debt.
e. When its assets are financed with 50 percent equity and 50 percent retained earnings.