Wall Street Series #
20# | Interest Coverage Ratio: Can a Company Afford Its Debt?
A company can carry debt — but can its earnings comfortably cover the interest?
Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT ÷ Interest Expense
📈 Higher ratio → Stronger interest coverage
📉 Lower ratio → Greater financial risk
But context matters.
Industry, growth stage, and interest-rate conditions can all affect what counts as a “healthy” ratio.
The key question:
Is the company earning enough to comfortably cover its interest payments?