Debt To Equity Ratio
Definition of Debt To Equity Ratio
Debt to equity ratio: Total liabilities / Shareholder equity
A high debt to equity ratio means that a company is taking on more debt to run its business. A low debt to equity ratio means that a company is operating at low debt.
That’s why investors calculate the D/E ratio to understand a company’s ability to operate without debt. Generally, D/E is used for comparative analysis within sectors, not across industries because the ideal debt ratio may vary.
Related Terms
Value Trap
Quarterly Results
Carrying Charge
A carrying charge can increase the cost of owning an asset. At times, the cost of carry may exceed the potential returns, in which case an investor must evaluate whether the asset is worth keeping.
Iceberg Order
That’s why institutional investors or traders with a relatively large buy or sell order place an Iceberg Order, thus masking their total transaction value and effectively going under the radar.
Brokers and trading platforms offer Iceberg Orders as a feature, which is activated after a certain quantity of scrips or contracts are selected, typically above 100.

