Interest Coverage Ratio Formula (Table of Contents)
- Interest Coverage Ratio Formula
- Interest Coverage Ratio Calculator
- Interest Coverage Ratio Formula in Excel (With Excel Template)
Interest Coverage Ratio Formula
The interest coverage ratio is a ratio that measures the ability of a company to pay interest on its debt on time. It does just calculate the ability of a company to make payment of interest, not principle. The investor uses this to calculate a risk associated with a company and also help to understand the profitability of a company. An investor also checks whether a company can pay its due on time without affecting it’s business and profitability. Borrowing can be short term or long term.
Interest coverage ratio represents a margin of safety. Interest coverage ratio formula can be written as in reference to EBIT, EBITDA. There are two types of formula. Let’s discuss the same.
- Interest Coverage Ratio Formula using EBIT-
Interest coverage ratio formula is EBIT for the period upon total interest payable in the given period. EBIT is earnings before interest and tax. The formula for same can be written as:-
- Interest Coverage Ratio Formula using EBITDA-
Here, non-cash income is also added to EBIT. A formula for same can be written as EBIT for the period plus non-cash expenses divided total interest payable in the given period. Here, EBITDA is Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization. An Interest Coverage Ratio formula can be written as:-
This Interest Coverage Ratio Formula can be written as:-
Examples of Interest Coverage Ratio Formula
Let’s take an example to understand the calculation of Interest Coverage Ratio in a better manner.
Interest Coverage Ratio Formula – Example #1
Suppose, a company R&R Pvt. Ltd has EBIT $100,000 for 2018 and total interest payable for 2018 is $40,000.
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Solution:
Now, let’s calculate the interest coverage ratio using EBIT.
- Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT for the Period / Total Interest Payable in the given Period
- Interest Coverage Ratio = 100,000 / 40,000
- Interest Coverage Ratio = 2.5
Interest coverage ratio for R&R Pvt. Ltd. is 2.5
Interest Coverage Ratio Formula – Example #2
A consulting company has below financial statement for the year 2017 and 2018. A company is new in the market and growing. Company has total revenue of $165,000 in 2018, $150,000 in 2017 and expense of $25,300 in year 2018, $18,450 expense in year 2017. Through this and considering other income and other expense earning before tax and income are calculated which help to find profit before tax and profit after tax and finally one can get an interest coverage ratio.
Solution:
Assuming an income tax of 10%.
| Particulars | 2018 | 2017 |
| Revenue: | ||
| Advisory Fees | $ 75,000.00 | $ 90,000.00 |
| Consultancy Fees | $ 90,000.00 | $ 60,000.00 |
| Total Revenue(A) | $ 165,000.00 | $ 150,000.00 |
| Expenses: | ||
| Direct Expense | $ 14,500.00 | $ 12,000.00 |
| Advertisement Expense | $ 3,000.00 | $ 2,000.00 |
| Commission Paid | $ 500.00 | $ 300.00 |
| Miscellaneous Expense | $ 300.00 | $ 150.00 |
| Depreciation | $ 7,000.00 | $ 4,000.00 |
| Total Operating Expense(B) | $ 25,300.00 | $ 18,450.00 |
| Operating Income(A-B) | $ 139,700.00 | $ 131,550.00 |
| Other Income | $ 8,000.00 | $ 7,000.00 |
| Other Expense | $ 700.00 | $ 500.00 |
| Earning before tax and income | $ 147,000.00 | $ 138,050.00 |
| Interest | $ 9,000.00 | $ 7,000.00 |
| Profit Before Tax | $ 138,000.00 | $ 131,050.00 |
| Tax (10%) | $ 13,800.00 | $ 13,105.00 |
| Profit after Tax | $ 124,200.00 | $ 117,945.00 |
Now, let’s calculate interest coverage ratio using EBIT for 2017.
- Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT for the Period / Total Interest Payable in the given Period
- Interest Coverage Ratio for 2017 = 138,050 / 7000
- Interest Coverage Ratio for 2017 = 19.72
Now, let’s calculate interest coverage ratio using EBIT for 2018.
- Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT for the Period / Total Interest Payable in the given Period
- Interest Coverage Ratio for 2018 = 147,000 / 9000
- Interest Coverage Ratio for 2018 = 16.33
Interest Coverage Ratio Formula – Example #3
Suppose, a company ADC Pvt. Ltd has EBIT $100,000 for year 2018, non-cash expense is $4,000 and total interest payable for 2018 is $40,000.
Now, let’s calculate the interest coverage ratio using EBITDA.
Interest Coverage Ratio = (EBIT for the period + Non-cash Expense) / Total Interest Payable in the given period
- Interest Coverage Ratio = (100,000 + 4000) / 40,000
- Interest Coverage Ratio =104,000 / 40,000
- Interest Coverage Ratio = 2.6
Interest coverage ratio for ADC Pvt. Ltd. is 2.6
Interest Coverage Ratio Formula – Example #4
A company has below financial statement for the year 2018. Through this let’s calculate Interest coverage ratio. The company is applicable for 10% Tax.
| Particulars | 2018 |
| Revenue: | |
| Advisory Fees | $ 100,000.00 |
| Consultancy Fees | $ 92,630.00 |
| Total Revenue(A) | $ 192,630.00 |
| Expenses: | |
| Direct Expense | $ 74,000.00 |
| Advertisement Expense | $ 5,000.00 |
| Commission Paid | $ 700.00 |
| Miscellaneous Expense | $ 500.00 |
| Depreciation | $ 6,000.00 |
| Total Operating Expense(B) | $ 86,200.00 |
| Operating Income(A-B) | $ 106,430.00 |
| Other Income | $ 5,000.00 |
| Other Expense | $ 1,000.00 |
| Earning before tax and income | $ 110,430.00 |
| Interest | $ 10,000.00 |
| Profit Before Tax | $ 100,430.00 |
| Tax (10%) | $ 10,043.00 |
| Profit after Tax | $ 90,387.00 |
Now, let’s calculate interest coverage ratio using EBITDA.
- Interest Coverage Ratio = (EBIT for the period + Non-cash Expense) / Total Interest Payable in the given period
- Interest coverage ratio = (110,430 + 6,000) / 10,000
- Interest coverage ratio = 116,430 / 10,000
- Interest Coverage Ratio = 11.64
Explanation
For calculating either of the formulas can be used to find the interest coverage ratio, it also depends on the person who is calculating to decide which formula needs to be used.
Now, let us analyze the interest coverage ratio. The interest coverage ratio is calculated to understand the risk associated with a company it also helps the financial institute to check the repayment capacity of a company. It is basically used to check solvency. Let’s see interest coverage ratio values and its meaning they are as follow:-
- If a company has an interest coverage ratio less than 1 that means a company is risky and not in a condition to pay neither the interest nor principle against its debt. Financial institutions never give them loan as there is a high chance that loan can become NPA i.e. non-performing asset.
Interest Coverage Ratio < 1
- If a company has an interest coverage ratio equal to 1 that means a company is quite risky, it is able to pay just interest amount to the lender, not principle. These types of a company also never get any loan from the financial institution as there is a risk involved of principle.
Interest Coverage Ratio = 1
- If a company has an interest coverage ratio greater than 1 that means a company has money to pay interest against its debt and also extra amount to pay against the principle.
Interest Coverage Ratio > 1
- Ideally, the interest coverage ratio should be greater than 1.5, in this scenario a financial institution will give a loan easily. A risk associated with a company will also be low as a company will have a sufficient amount to repay interest and principle to a lender.
Interest Coverage Ratio >= 1.5
- If the interest coverage ratio goes below 1.5 then, it is a red alert for a company and with this risk associated with a company will also increase.
Interest Coverage Ratio < 1.5
Significance and Use of Interest Coverage Ratio Formula
Uses of Interest coverage ratio formula are as follows:-
- A lender can check risk and creditworthiness of a company through interest coverage ratio.
- It is used as a measurement device to take a decision by an investor, stakeholder and companies management.
- It also helps in trend analysis and helps to check the stability of a company.
There are some limitations of interest coverage ratio like sometimes it will not give a true picture of a company’s financial condition because there are seasonal factors which effect ratio. It does not show an effect of tax payment. To get the best result with this formula use another formula like quick ratio, cash ratio etc. that will give one clear picture of the financial position of company and risk associated with it.
Interest Coverage Ratio Calculator
You can use the following Interest Coverage Ratio Calculator
| EBIT for the Period | |
| Total Interest Payable in the given Period | |
| Interest Coverage Ratio Formula | |
| Interest Coverage Ratio Formula | = |
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Interest Coverage Ratio Formula in Excel (With Excel Template)
Here we will do the same example of the Interest Coverage Ratio formula in Excel. It is very easy and simple. You need to provide the three inputs i.e EBIT, Interest and EBITDA
You can easily calculate the Interest Coverage Ratio using Formula in the template provided.
Interest coverage ratio for R&R Pvt. Ltd is Calculated as:
Interest Coverage Ratio for 2017 is Calculated as:
Interest Coverage Ratio for 2018 is Calculated as:
Interest coverage ratio for ADC Pvt. Ltd. is Calculated as:
Interest Coverage Ratio Using EBITDA is Calculated as:
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