What does the debt to equity ratio indicate?

The debt to equity ratio reflects the proportion of debt used to finance a company's assets in relation to the shareholders' equity. It provides valuable insights into the financial leverage of a company, indicating how much debt the company is using to fund its operations and growth compared to the money that shareholders have invested. A higher ratio suggests that a company is more heavily reliant on borrowed funds, which may indicate higher financial risk, whereas a lower ratio might signify a more conservative approach with less reliance on debt. Therefore, understanding the debt to equity ratio is crucial for assessing the financial structure and risk profile of a company.