GrafTech International 404280DR7 Bond

G6G Stock  EUR 1.55  0.10  6.06%   
GrafTech International's financial leverage is the degree to which the firm utilizes its fixed-income securities and uses equity to finance projects. Companies with high leverage are usually considered to be at financial risk. GrafTech International's financial risk is the risk to GrafTech International stockholders that is caused by an increase in debt. In other words, with a high degree of financial leverage come high-interest payments, which usually reduce Earnings Per Share (EPS).
  
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Given the importance of GrafTech International's capital structure, the first step in the capital decision process is for the management of GrafTech International to decide how much external capital it will need to raise to operate in a sustainable way. Once the amount of financing is determined, management needs to examine the financial markets to determine the terms in which the company can boost capital. This move is crucial to the process because the market environment may reduce the ability of GrafTech International to issue bonds at a reasonable cost.
Popular NameGrafTech International HSBC Holdings PLC
Equity ISIN CodeUS3843135084
Bond Issue ISIN CodeUS404280DR76
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Understaning GrafTech International Use of Financial Leverage

GrafTech International's financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures GrafTech International's total debt position, including all outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with GrafTech International's equity. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to GrafTech International's owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if GrafTech International is unable to cover its debt costs.
GrafTech International Ltd. researches, develops, manufactures, and sells graphite and carbon based products worldwide. GrafTech International Ltd. was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio. GRAFTECH INTL operates under Electrical Equipment Parts classification in Germany and is traded on Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It employs 1285 people.
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Additional Information and Resources on Investing in GrafTech Stock

When determining whether GrafTech International is a strong investment it is important to analyze GrafTech International's competitive position within its industry, examining market share, product or service uniqueness, and competitive advantages. Beyond financials and market position, potential investors should also consider broader economic conditions, industry trends, and any regulatory or geopolitical factors that may impact GrafTech International's future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding GrafTech Stock, refer to the following important reports:
Check out the analysis of GrafTech International Fundamentals Over Time.
For more detail on how to invest in GrafTech Stock please use our How to Invest in GrafTech International guide.
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Please note, there is a significant difference between GrafTech International's value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if GrafTech International is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, GrafTech International's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.

What is Financial Leverage?

Financial leverage is the use of borrowed money (debt) to finance the purchase of assets with the expectation that the income or capital gain from the new asset will exceed the cost of borrowing. In most cases, the debt provider will limit how much risk it is ready to take and indicate a limit on the extent of the leverage it will allow. In the case of asset-backed lending, the financial provider uses the assets as collateral until the borrower repays the loan. In the case of a cash flow loan, the general creditworthiness of the company is used to back the loan. The concept of leverage is common in the business world. It is mostly used to boost the returns on equity capital of a company, especially when the business is unable to increase its operating efficiency and returns on total investment. Because earnings on borrowing are higher than the interest payable on debt, the company's total earnings will increase, ultimately boosting stockholders' profits.

Leverage and Capital Costs

The debt to equity ratio plays a role in the working average cost of capital (WACC). The overall interest on debt represents the break-even point that must be obtained to profitability in a given venture. Thus, WACC is essentially the average interest an organization owes on the capital it has borrowed for leverage. Let's say equity represents 60% of borrowed capital, and debt is 40%. This results in a financial leverage calculation of 40/60, or 0.6667. The organization owes 10% on all equity and 5% on all debt. That means that the weighted average cost of capital is (.4)(5) + (.6)(10) - or 8%. For every $10,000 borrowed, this organization will owe $800 in interest. Profit must be higher than 8% on the project to offset the cost of interest and justify this leverage.

Benefits of Financial Leverage

Leverage provides the following benefits for companies:
  • Leverage is an essential tool a company's management can use to make the best financing and investment decisions.
  • It provides a variety of financing sources by which the firm can achieve its target earnings.
  • Leverage is also an essential technique in investing as it helps companies set a threshold for the expansion of business operations. For example, it can be used to recommend restrictions on business expansion once the projected return on additional investment is lower than the cost of debt.
By borrowing funds, the firm incurs a debt that must be paid. But, this debt is paid in small installments over a relatively long period of time. This frees funds for more immediate use in the stock market. For example, suppose a company can afford a new factory but will be left with negligible free cash. In that case, it may be better to finance the factory and spend the cash on hand on inputs, labor, or even hold a significant portion as a reserve against unforeseen circumstances.

The Risk of Financial Leverage

The most obvious and apparent risk of leverage is that if price changes unexpectedly, the leveraged position can lead to severe losses. For example, imagine a hedge fund seeded by $50 worth of investor money. The hedge fund borrows another $50 and buys an asset worth $100, leading to a leverage ratio of 2:1. For the investor, this is neither good nor bad -- until the asset price changes. If the asset price goes up 10 percent, the investor earns $10 on $50 of capital, a net gain of 20 percent, and is very pleased with the increased gains from the leverage. However, if the asset price crashes unexpectedly, say by 30 percent, the investor loses $30 on $50 of capital, suffering a 60 percent loss. In other words, the effect of leverage is to increase the volatility of returns and increase the effects of a price change on the asset to the bottom line while increasing the chance for profit as well.