What is meant by capital structure? (2024)

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Capital structure refers to the combination of borrowed funds and owners’ fund that a firm uses for financing its fund requirements. Herein, borrowed funds comprise of loans, public deposits, debentures, etc. and owners’ fund comprise of preference share capital, equity share capital, retained earning etc. Generally, capital structure is simply referred as the combination of debt and equity that a firm uses for financing its funds. It is calculated as the ratio of debt and equity or the proportion of debt in the total capital used by the firm. Algebraically,

What is meant by capital structure? (1)

The proportion of the debt and equity used by the firm affects its financial risk and profitability. While on one hand, debt is a cheaper source of finance than equity and lowers the overall cost of capital but on the other hand, higher use of debt, increases the financial risk for the firm. Thus, the decision regarding the capital structure should be taken with utmost care. Capital structure is said to be optimal when the proportion of debt and equity used is such that the earnings per share increases.

What is meant by capital structure? (2024)

FAQs

What is meant by capital structure? ›

What Is Capital Structure? Capital structure is the particular combination of debt and equity used by a company to finance its overall operations and growth. Equity capital arises from ownership shares in a company and claims to its future cash flows and profits.

What is meant by simple capital structure? ›

A simple capital structure is a capital structure that contains no potentially dilutive securities. In other words, a simple capital structure consists only of common stock, nonconvertible debt, and nonconvertible preferred stock.

What are the four types of capital structure? ›

The types of capital structure are equity share capital, debt, preference share capital, and vendor finance. In addition, it ensures accurate funds utilization for business. The right capital structure level decreases the overall capital cost to the highest level. Also, it increases the public entity's valuation.

What is capital structure simplified? ›

Capital structure refers to the amount of debt and/or equity employed by a firm to fund its operations and finance its assets. A firm's capital structure is typically expressed as a debt-to-equity or debt-to-capital ratio.

What is the principle of capital structure? ›

As per cost principle, optimum capital structure is that debt equity mix at which cost of capital is lowest and market value of firm is highest.

What is an example of a capital structure? ›

For instance, a company may have a capital structure of 60% equity and 40% debt, indicating that 60% of its funds are raised through equity, and 40% through debt.

What is the best definition of capital structure quizlet? ›

- The capital structure is how a firm finances its overall operations and growth by using different sources of funds. It may be financed either by equity (stocks), debt (borrowed money) or a combination of these two. - Market value is the sum of financial claims of a company.

What is capital structure and why is it important to a company? ›

Capital structure is the combination of your company's sources of finance. It includes equity and debt that can help you meet operational and investment requirements. The financial framework is crucial in shaping your organization's financial health and sustainability.

What are the disadvantages of capital structure? ›

However, the disadvantages include higher cost of capital, dilution of ownership, and potential conflicts with shareholders. 3. Hybrid Capital Structure: This type of capital structure combines elements of both debt and equity financing.

What is the difference between financial structure and capital structure? ›

Financial structure refers to the composition of a company's financial resources, while capital structure specifically focuses on the mix of equity and debt used to finance operations efficiently.

What is a balanced capital structure? ›

A balanced capital structure refers to the optimal mix of debt and equity financing that enables both parties to the M&A deal to achieve their strategic objectives while minimizing risks.

What is a good debt to equity ratio? ›

Generally, a good debt ratio is around 1 to 1.5. However, the ideal debt ratio will vary depending on the industry, as some industries use more debt financing than others. Capital-intensive industries like the financial and manufacturing industries often have higher ratios that can be greater than 2.

What are the major determinants of capital structure? ›

Within the framework of traditional and moderate dynamic capital structure theories, the key determinants such as fixed assets, current assets, return on equity, size, earning per share and total assets are tested in relation to the debt-equity ratio.

Are current assets included in capital structure? ›

The term "capital structure" refers to: long-term debt, preferred stock, and common stock equity. current assets and current liabilities.

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