Leverage
is used to reduce the cost of a firm. There are three types of leverage in a firm
that is operating leverage, financial leverage and combined leverage. The operating
leverage helps to determine the operating cost associated with the firm. The
operating leverage is an investment activity of the firm in which helps to
ascertain the total cost of operating the business activities. The operating
leverage is calculated with the help of earnings before interest and tax and
sales.
The
financial leverage helps to determine the financial risk in a firm. Using the
debt instrument in capital structure to finance its business activity is known
as financial leverage. The financial leverage helps to reduce the tax burden by
paying interest on debt instrument. The interest amount is tax deduct-able.
Difference
between operating leverage and financial leverage:
Point of difference
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Operating Leverage
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Financial Leverage
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What is operating leverage and financial
leverage?
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The operating cost
for using the assets to generate sales is known as operating leverage.
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In financial leverage using the debt in capital structure
for which company has to pay interest on it.
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Higher operating leverage and financial leverage
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Higher operating leverage means company pays more fixed cost on using
fixed assets. If the cost is high in comparison to the return in that case it
is not good for company.
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Higher financial leverage means company pays more interest for using
more debt instrument in capital structure. If the leverage is high then the
return of the shareholders is increases and the main motive of the company is
to increase the shareholders wealth. So, the higher financial leverage is
good for the company.
|
Business risk or financial risk
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The operating leverage helps to determine the business
risk in the firm.
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The financial leverage helps to determine the financial
risk in the firm.
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How to determine the operating leverage and
financial leverage?
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With the help of cost structure company can find out the operating
cost of the company.
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With the help of capital structure company can find out the debt
amount used in a company.
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How to calculate operating leverage and financial
leverage?
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Degree of Operating leverage (OL) = percentage change
in earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) / percentage change in sales
Or
Operating leverage (OL) = Contribution margin /
operating profit
|
Financial leverage (FL) = earnings before interest and
tax (EBIT) / Earnings before tax (EBT)
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What is the motive of financial leverage and
operating leverage?
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Operating leverage helps to reduce the operating cost of the firm.
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Financial leverage helps to reduce the tax burden of the firm.
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What are the advantages of operating leverage and
financial leverage?
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It helps to reduce the operating cost of the firm,
It helps to ascertain the cost structure.
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It increases the earnings per share,
It helps to
maintain the existing shareholders in accompany.
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What are the disadvantages of operating leverage
and financial leverage?
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If the operating cost is high then the business risk is also high.
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It increases the burden of the firm; It increases the chances of
default risk.
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