Definition
Debt-to-capital ratio is the measure of a company's financial leverage using total debt and equity. It shows up in the paperwork: ownership, rights, and what happens when things change. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
A mentor asks, “What is your Debt-to-capital ratio?” The useful answer is concrete: measure of a company's financial leverage using total debt and equity. A slide title is not an answer.
Common mistake
Using Debt-to-capital ratio as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Debt
Money borrowed by a company or individual that must be repaid with interest.
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Debt financing
Raising capital by borrowing money that must be repaid over time.
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Debt service
Regular payments required to cover interest and principal on outstanding debt.
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Debt-equity ratio
Financial ratio comparing a company's total debt to its shareholders' equity.
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