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Interest Coverage Ratio

By Madhuri ThakurMadhuri Thakur

Home » Finance » Blog » Corporate Finance Basics » Interest Coverage Ratio

Interest Coverage Ratio

What is the Interest Coverage Ratio?

The term “interest coverage ratio” (ICR) refers to the financial ratio that assesses a business’s capability to pay off its financial costs by using its operating profit. In other words, it measures how well a company is able to cover the interest payment on its debt. Please note that the calculation does not include principal repayment obligations.

Formula

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The formula can be expressed as operating profit or earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) divided by the interest expense. Mathematically, it is represented as,

Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT / Interest Expense

Examples of Interest Coverage Ratio (With Excel Template)

Let’s take an example to understand the calculation in a better manner.

You can download this Interest Coverage Ratio Excel Template here – Interest Coverage Ratio Excel Template

Example #1

Let us take the example of a manufacturing company to illustrate the computation of the (ICR). The company achieved revenue of $35.5 million during 2018, while it incurred the raw material cost and direct labor cost of $12.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively. The rental expense, depreciation, and salaries for the period are $0.7 million, $1.5 million and $3.7 million, respectively. Calculate the company’s interest coverage ratio if its interest expense for the year was $2.2 million.

Interest Coverage Ratio-1.1

Solution:

COGS is calculated using the formula given below

COGS = Raw Material Cost + Direct Labor Cost

Interest Coverage Ratio-1.2

  • COGS = $12.2 million + $5.5 million
  • COGS = $17.7 million

Operating Expenses is calculated using the formula given below

Operating Expenses = Rental Expense + Depreciation + Salaries

Interest Coverage Ratio-1.3

  • Operating Expenses = $0.7 million + $1.5 million + $3.7 million
  • Operating Expenses = $5.9 million

Operating Income (EBIT) is calculated using the formula given below

EBIT = Revenue – COGS – Operating Expenses

Interest Coverage Ratio-1.4

  • Operating Income (EBIT) = $35.5 million – $17.7 million – $5.9 million
  • Operating Income (EBIT) = $11.9 million

It is calculated using the formula given below

Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT / Interest Expense

Interest Coverage Ratio-1.5...

  • = $11.9 million / $2.2 million
  • = 5.4x

Therefore, the company’s (ICR) for the year 2018 was 5.4x.

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Example #2

Let us now take Apple Inc.’s example to explain the calculation of (ICR). During 2018, Apple Inc. booked $70.90 billion as operating income, while it incurred $3.24 billion as interest expense. Compute Apple Inc.’s interest coverage (ICR) based on the given information.

Interest Coverage Ratio-2.1

Solution:

It is calculated using the formula given below

Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT / Interest Expense

Interest Coverage Ratio-2.2

  • = $70.90 billion / $3.24billion
  • = 21.88x

Therefore, Apple Inc.’s (ICR) for the year 2018 was 21.9x.

Apple Inc.’s -1

Source Link: Apple Inc. Balance Sheet

Example #3

Now, let us take the example of Walmart Inc. and compute it (ICR). The company recorded an operating income of $20.44 billion during 2018. Compute Walmart Inc.’s interest coverage ratio for the year 2018 if the interest expense incurred was $1.98 billion.

Walmart Inc.’s -3.1

Solution:

Interest Coverage Ratio is calculated using the formula given below

Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT / Interest Expense

Interest Coverage Ratio-3.2

  • = $20.44 billion / $1.98 billion
  • = 10.3x

Therefore, Walmart Inc.’s (ICR) for the year 2018 was 10.3x.

Walmart Inc.’s -2

Source Link: Walmart Inc. Balance Sheet

Example #4

Now, let us take the example of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s annual report for the year 2018. As per the annual report, the year’s operating profit and financial expenses were $53.52 billion and $7.82 billion, respectively. Compute Samsung’s interest coverage ratio for the year 2018.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s-4.1

Solution:

Interest Coverage Ratio is calculated using the formula given below

Interest Coverage Ratio = EBIT / Interest Expense

Interest Coverage Ratio-4.2

  • = $53.52 billion / $7.82 billion
  • = 6.8x

Therefore, Samsung’s (ICR) for the year 2018 was 6.8x.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s -3

Source Link: Samsung Inc. Balance Sheet

Explanation

The formula can be derived by using the following steps:

Step 1: Firstly, determine the operating profit booked by the company during the given period, usually a year, which is available as a separate line item in the income statement. If not, then EBIT can be computed by subtracting the cost of goods sold (COGS) and operating expenses from revenue.

EBIT = Revenue – COGS – Operating expenses

Step 2: Next, determine the company’s interest expense on its debt during the given period. It is either available as interest expense or financial cost in the income statement.

Step 3: Finally, the formula for (ICR) can be derived by dividing the operating profit (step 1) by the interest expense (step 2) as shown below.

ICR = EBIT / Interest Expense

Relevance and Use of Interest Coverage Ratio

The concept of (ICR) is very important as it is used to assess a company’s capability to pay its interest obligations. A higher value (more than 2.0x) indicates that the company can comfortably meet its interest expenses. On the other hand, a lower value (less than 1.0x) of (ICR) indicates that the company is not generating adequate operating profit to meet interest payments, which exposes it to the risk of bankruptcy.

Recommended Articles

This is a guide to Interest Coverage Ratio. Here we discuss how to calculate (ICR) along with practical examples. We also provide an excel template. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –

  1. Horizontal Integration Example
  2. Difference Between Profitability vs Liquidity
  3. What is the Gross Profit Ratio?
  4. Examples of Working Capital Turnover Ratio
  5. Guide to Balance Sheet Ratios
  6. Coverage Ratio | Advantages and Disadvantages

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