In: Finance
What is the scope of the return on equity model (ROE)? Which two important elements does it incorporate?
Why is financial leverage a double-edged sword?
ROE incorporates the two important elements of Return on |
Assets and the Equity multiplier (Financial leverage), such |
that |
ROE = Return on assets*Equity multplier. |
The model suggests that ROE can be improved by improving |
either of the two ratios--ROA or Equity multiplier. |
ROA is again the product of Profit margin and Total asset |
turnover. Improvement in either of these two ratios or both |
will result in higher return on total assets. |
Improvement in equity multiplier (given as Total Assets/Equity) |
can be achieved by reducing the equity, that is increasing |
financial leverage by increasing the debt content. |
However, high financial leverage in times of lower return on |
assets in times of recession can be counterproductive. |
Hence, it can be summed up that financial leverage is a double |
edged sword. High financial leverage is advantageous when |
ROA is higher than the cost of debt and disadvantageous when |
ROA is lower than the cost of debt. |