capital structure


Capital structure

The makeup of the liabilities and stockholders' equity side of the balance sheet, especially the ratio of debt to equity and the mixture of short and long maturities.

Capital Structure

How a company finances its operations. The three most basic ways to finance are through debt, equity (or the issue of stock), and, for a small business, personal savings. Capital structure usually refers to how much of each type of financing a company holds as a percentage of all its financing. Generally speaking, a company with a high level of debt compared to equity is thought to carry higher risk, though some analysts do not believe that capital structure matters to risk or profitability.

capital structure

See capitalization.

capital structure

the composition of a JOINT-STOCK COMPANY'S long-term capital which reflects the source of that capital, for example SHARE CAPITAL and long-term LOAN CAPITAL. See CAPITAL GEARING.

capital structure

See capital stack.