Debt-to-Equity Ratio (DER)

A leverage measure comparing a company's interest-bearing debt to its shareholder equity.

Definition

DER – A leverage measure comparing a company's interest-bearing debt to its shareholder equity. A falling DER means the balance sheet is relying less on borrowed capital relative to owners' capital, whether from paying down debt or raising equity (or both at once). Found In: Balance Sheet Formula:

DER = Interest-Bearing Debt / Total Equity