Heartland Express Debt
| HLX Stock | EUR 11.80 0.30 2.61% |
Heartland Express' 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. Heartland Express' financial risk is the risk to Heartland Express 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).
Given that Heartland Express' 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 Heartland Express 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 Heartland Express to its assets or equity, showing how much of the company assets belong to shareholders vs. creditors. If shareholders own more assets, Heartland Express is said to be less leveraged. If creditors hold a majority of Heartland Express' assets, the Company is said to be highly leveraged.
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Heartland Express Debt to Cash Allocation
Many companies such as Heartland Express, 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.
Heartland Express has accumulated 399.06 M in total debt. Heartland Express has a current ratio of 3.58, suggesting that it is liquid and has the ability to pay its financial obligations in time and when they become due. Debt can assist Heartland Express until it has trouble settling it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. So, Heartland Express' 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 Heartland Express sell additional shares at bargain prices, diluting existing shareholders. Debt, in this case, can be an excellent and much better tool for Heartland to invest in growth at high rates of return. When we think about Heartland Express' use of debt, we should always consider it together with cash and equity.Heartland Express 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 Heartland Express' operation. In addition, a high debt-to-assets ratio may indicate a low borrowing capacity of Heartland Express, which in turn will lower the firm's financial flexibility.Heartland Express Corporate Bonds Issued
Most Heartland bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when Heartland Express 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 Heartland Express Use of Financial Leverage
Heartland Express' financial leverage ratio helps determine the effect of debt on the overall profitability of the company. It measures Heartland Express' total debt position, including all outstanding debt obligations, and compares it with Heartland Express' equity. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to Heartland Express' owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if Heartland Express is unable to cover its debt costs.
Heartland Express, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a short-to-medium haul truckload carrier in the United States and Canada. Heartland Express, Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in North Liberty, Iowa. HEARTLAND EXPRESS operates under Trucking classification in Germany and is traded on Frankfurt Stock Exchange. It employs 3450 people. Please read more on our technical analysis page.
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Additional Information and Resources on Investing in Heartland Stock
When determining whether Heartland Express is a strong investment it is important to analyze Heartland Express' 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 Heartland Express' future performance. For an informed investment choice regarding Heartland Stock, refer to the following important reports:Check out the analysis of Heartland Express Fundamentals Over Time. For more detail on how to invest in Heartland Stock please use our How to Invest in Heartland Express guide.You can also try the Portfolio Center module to all portfolio management and optimization tools to improve performance of your portfolios.
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.