Customary payout ratios
A range of payout ratios that is typical based on an analysis of comparable firms. |
Similar financial terms
Dividend payout ratioA ratio showing the percentage of net profits paid out in dividends on common stock, after reducing net profits by the amount of dividends paid on preferred stock.
Target payout ratio
A firm's long-run dividend-to-earnings ratio. The firm's policy is to attempt to pay out a certain percentage of earnings, but it pays a stated dollar dividend and adjusts it to the target as base-line increases in earnings occur.
Payout ratio
Generally, the proportion of earnings paid out to the common stockholders as cash dividends. More specifically, the firm's cash dividend divided by the firm's earnings in the same reporting period.
Short-term solvency ratios
Ratios used to judge the adequacy of liquid assets for meeting short-term obligations as they come due, including (a) the current ratio, (b) the acid-test ratio, (c) the inventory turnover ratio, and (d) the accounts receivable turnover ratio.
Reserve ratios
Specified percentages of deposits, established by the Federal Reserve Board, that banks must keep in a non-interest-bearing account at one of the twelve Federal Reserve Banks.
Rate of return ratios
Ratios that are designed to measure the profitability of the firm in relation to various measures of the funds invested in the firm.
Profitability ratios
Ratios that focus on the profitability of the firm. Profit margins measure performance with relation to sales. Rate of return ratios measure performance relative to some measure of size of the investment.
Market value ratios
Ratios that relate the market price of the firm's common stock to selected financial statement items.
Liquidity ratios
Ratios that measure a firm's ability to meet its short-term financial obligations on time.
Leverage ratios
Measures of the relative contribution of stockholders and creditors, and of the firm's ability to pay financing charges. Value of firm's debt to the total value of the firm.
Capitalization ratios
Also called financial leverage ratios, these ratios compare debt to total capitalization and thus reflect the extent to which a corporation is trading on its equity. Capitalization ratios can be interpreted only in the context of the stability of industry and company earnings and cash flow.
Common stock ratios
Ratios that are designed to measure the relative claims of stockholders to earnings (cash flow per share), and equity (book value per share) of a firm.
Coverage ratios
Ratios used to test the adequacy of cash flows generated through earnings for purposes of meeting debt and lease obligations, including the interest coverage ratio and the fixed charge coverage ratio.
