Ch 03 Analysis of Financial Statements
The use of debt financing will tend to lower the basic earning power ratio, other things held constant.
A firm that employs financial leverage will have a higher equity multiplier than an otherwise identical firm
that has no debt in its capital structure.
If two firms have identical sales, interest rates paid, operating costs, and assets, but differ in the way they are
financed, the firm with less debt will generally have the higher expected ROE.
Holding bonds is better than holding stock for investors because income from bonds is taxed on a more
favorable basis than income from stock.
FMTP.EHRH.17.03.08 – LO: 3-8
United States – BUSPROG: Analytic
United States – AK – DISC: Financial statements, anal – DISC: Financial statements, analysis,
forecasting, and cash flows
United States – OH – Default City – TBA
TYPE: Multiple Choice: Conceptual
93. Which of the following statements is CORRECT?
Suppose a firm’s total assets turnover ratio falls from 1.0 to 0.9, but at the same time its profit margin rises
from 9% to 10%, and its debt increases from 40% of total assets to 60%. Under these conditions, the ROE will
decrease.
Suppose a firm’s total assets turnover ratio falls from 1.0 to 0.9, but at the same time its profit margin rises
from 9% to 10% and its debt increases from 40% of total assets to 60%. Under these conditions, the ROE will
increase.
Suppose a firm’s total assets turnover ratio falls from 1.0 to 0.9, but at the same time its profit margin rises
from 9% to 10% and its debt increases from 40% of total assets to 60%. Without additional information, we
cannot tell what will happen to the ROE.
The modified DuPont equation provides information about how operations affect the ROE, but the equation
does not include the effects of debt on the ROE.
Other things held constant, an increase in the debt ratio will result in an increase in the profit margin on sales.