Iridium Communications Corporate Bonds and Leverage Analysis
| 6IC Stock | EUR 28.23 1.19 4.40% |
Iridium Communications has over 1.47 Billion in debt which may indicate that it relies heavily on debt financing. . Iridium Communications' financial risk is the risk to Iridium Communications stockholders that is caused by an increase in debt.
Asset vs Debt
Equity vs Debt
Iridium Communications' liquidity is one of the most fundamental aspects of both its future profitability and its ability to meet different types of ongoing financial obligations. Iridium Communications' 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 Iridium Stock's retail investors understand whether an upcoming fall or rise in the market will negatively affect Iridium Communications' stakeholders.
For most companies, including Iridium Communications, marketable securities, inventories, and receivables are the most common assets that could be converted to cash. However, for Iridium Communications, the most critical issue when managing liquidity is ensuring that current assets are properly aligned with current liabilities. If they are not, Iridium Communications' management will need to obtain alternative financing to ensure there are always enough cash equivalents on the balance sheet to meet obligations.
Iridium |
Given the importance of Iridium Communications' capital structure, the first step in the capital decision process is for the management of Iridium Communications 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 Iridium Communications to issue bonds at a reasonable cost.
Iridium Communications Debt to Cash Allocation
Many companies such as Iridium Communications, 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.
Iridium Communications has accumulated 1.47 B in total debt with debt to equity ratio (D/E) of 123.6, indicating the company may have difficulties to generate enough cash to satisfy its financial obligations. Iridium Communications has a current ratio of 1.11, suggesting that it is in a questionable position to pay out its financial obligations in time and when they become due. Debt can assist Iridium Communications until it has trouble settling it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. So, Iridium Communications' 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 Iridium Communications sell additional shares at bargain prices, diluting existing shareholders. Debt, in this case, can be an excellent and much better tool for Iridium to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about Iridium Communications' use of debt, we should always consider it together with cash and equity.Iridium Communications 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 Iridium Communications' operation. In addition, a high debt-to-assets ratio may indicate a low borrowing capacity of Iridium Communications, which in turn will lower the firm's financial flexibility.Iridium Communications Corporate Bonds Issued
Most Iridium bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when Iridium Communications 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 Iridium Communications Use of Financial Leverage
Iridium Communications' financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures Iridium Communications' total debt position, including all outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with Iridium Communications' equity. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to Iridium Communications' owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if Iridium Communications is unable to cover its debt costs.
Iridium Communications Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services through satellite to businesses, the U.S. and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers worldwide. Iridium Communications Inc. was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. IRIDIUM COMCTNS operates under Telecom Services classification in Germany and is traded on Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It employs 469 people. Please read more on our technical analysis page.
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Additional Information and Resources on Investing in Iridium Stock
When determining whether Iridium Communications is a strong investment it is important to analyze Iridium Communications' 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 Iridium Communications' future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding Iridium Stock, refer to the following important reports:Check out the analysis of Iridium Communications Fundamentals Over Time. For more detail on how to invest in Iridium Stock please use our How to Invest in Iridium Communications guide.You can also try the Portfolio Rebalancing module to analyze risk-adjusted returns against different time horizons to find asset-allocation targets.
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.