Capital Gearing Ratio:

Definition and Explanation:

Closely related to solvency ratio is the capital gearing ratio. Capital gearing ratio is mainly used to analyze the capital structure of a company.

The term capital structure refers to the relationship between the various long-term form of financing such as debentures, preference and equity share capital including reserves and surpluses. Leverage of capital structure ratios are calculated to test the long-term financial position of a firm.

The term “capital gearing” or “leverage” normally refers to the proportion of relationship between equity share capital including reserves and surpluses to preference share capital and other fixed interest bearing funds or loans. In other words it is the proportion between the fixed interest or dividend bearing funds and non fixed interest or dividend bearing funds. Equity share capital includes equity share capital and all reserves and surpluses items that belong to shareholders. Fixed interest bearing funds includes debentures, preference share capital and other long-term loans.

Formula of capital gearing ratio:

[Capital Gearing Ratio = Equity Share Capital / Fixed Interest Bearing Funds]

Example:

Calculate capital gearing ratio from the following data:

Significance of the ratio:

Capital gearing ratio is important to the company and the prospective investors. It must be carefully planned as it affects the company’s capacity to maintain a uniform dividend policy during difficult trading periods. It reveals the suitability of company’s capitalization.

You may also be interested in other articles from “financial statement analysis” chapter:

1. Horizontal and Vertical Analysis
2. Ratios Analysis
3. Horizontal Analysis or Trend Analysis
4. Trend Percentage
5. Vertical Analysis
6. Accounting Ratios Definition, Advantages, Classification and Limitations:
7. Gross profit ratio
8. Net profit ratio
9. Operating ratio
10. Expense ratio
11. Return on shareholders investment or net worth
12. Return on equity capital
13. Return on capital employed (ROCE) Ratio
14. Dividend yield ratio
15. Dividend payout ratio
16. Earnings Per Share (EPS) Ratio
17. Price earning ratio
18. Current ratio
19. Liquid/Acid test/Quick ratio
20. Inventory/Stock turnover ratio
21. Debtors/Receivables turnover ratio
22. Average collection period
23. Creditors/Payable turnover ratio
24. Working capital turnover ratio
25. Fixed assets turnover ratio
26. Over and under trading
27. Debt-to-equity ratio
28. Proprietary or Equity ratio
29. Ratio of fixed assets to shareholders funds
30. Ratio of current assets to shareholders funds
31. Interest coverage ratio
32. Capital gearing ratio
33. Over and under capitalization
34. Financial-Accounting- Ratios Formulas
35. Limitations of Financial Statement Analysis