National Grid Debt

NNGF Stock  EUR 11.10  0.10  0.89%   
National Grid PLC has over 32.89 Billion in debt which may indicate that it relies heavily on debt financing. . National Grid's financial risk is the risk to National Grid stockholders that is caused by an increase in debt.

Asset vs Debt

Equity vs Debt

National Grid's liquidity is one of the most fundamental aspects of both its future profitability and its ability to meet different types of ongoing financial obligations. National Grid's cash, liquid assets, total liabilities, and shareholder equity can be utilized to evaluate how much leverage the Company is using to sustain its current operations. For traders, higher-leverage indicators usually imply a higher risk to shareholders. In addition, it helps National Stock's retail investors understand whether an upcoming fall or rise in the market will negatively affect National Grid's stakeholders.
For most companies, including National Grid, marketable securities, inventories, and receivables are the most common assets that could be converted to cash. However, for National Grid PLC, the most critical issue when managing liquidity is ensuring that current assets are properly aligned with current liabilities. If they are not, National Grid's management will need to obtain alternative financing to ensure there are always enough cash equivalents on the balance sheet to meet obligations.
Given that National Grid's debt-to-equity ratio measures a Company's obligations relative to the value of its net assets, it is usually used by traders to estimate the extent to which National Grid is acquiring new debt as a mechanism of leveraging its assets. A high debt-to-equity ratio is generally associated with increased risk, implying that it has been aggressive in financing its growth with debt. Another way to look at debt-to-equity ratios is to compare the overall debt load of National Grid to its assets or equity, showing how much of the company assets belong to shareholders vs. creditors. If shareholders own more assets, National Grid is said to be less leveraged. If creditors hold a majority of National Grid's assets, the Company is said to be highly leveraged.
  
Check out the analysis of National Grid Fundamentals Over Time.

National Grid PLC Debt to Cash Allocation

Many companies such as National Grid, eventually find out that there is only so much market out there to be conquered, and adding the next product or service is only half as profitable per unit as their current endeavors. Eventually, the company will reach a point where cash flows are strong, and extra cash is available but not fully utilized. In this case, the company may start buying back its stock from the public or issue more dividends.
National Grid PLC has accumulated 32.89 B in total debt with debt to equity ratio (D/E) of 153.9, indicating the company may have difficulties to generate enough cash to satisfy its financial obligations. National Grid PLC has a current ratio of 0.85, indicating that it has a negative working capital and may not be able to pay financial obligations in time and when they become due. Debt can assist National Grid until it has trouble settling it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. So, National Grid's shareholders could walk away with nothing if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt. However, a more frequent occurrence is when companies like National Grid PLC sell additional shares at bargain prices, diluting existing shareholders. Debt, in this case, can be an excellent and much better tool for National to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about National Grid's use of debt, we should always consider it together with cash and equity.

National Grid Assets Financed by Debt

Typically, companies with high debt-to-asset ratios are said to be highly leveraged. The higher the ratio, the greater risk will be associated with the National Grid's operation. In addition, a high debt-to-assets ratio may indicate a low borrowing capacity of National Grid, which in turn will lower the firm's financial flexibility.

National Grid Corporate Bonds Issued

Most National bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when National Grid PLC has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

Understaning National Grid Use of Financial Leverage

National Grid's financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures National Grid's total debt position, including all outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with National Grid's equity. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to National Grid's owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if National Grid is unable to cover its debt costs.
National Grid plc transmits and distributes electricity and natural gas. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. NATIONAL GRID is traded on Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany.
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Additional Information and Resources on Investing in National Stock

When determining whether National Grid PLC is a strong investment it is important to analyze National Grid'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 National Grid's future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding National Stock, refer to the following important reports:
Check out the analysis of National Grid Fundamentals Over Time.
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Please note, there is a significant difference between National Grid's value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if National Grid is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, National Grid'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.