Operating Leverage vs Financial leverage

Operating Leverage vs Financial leverage (Differences)

Operating Leverage vs Financial Leverage – Leverage is a firm’s ability to employ new asset or funds to create better returns or to reduce costs. That’s why leverage for any company is very significant.

There are two kinds of leverage – operating leverage and financial leverage. When we combine the two, we get a third type of leverage – combined leverage. Since both of these (operating leverage and financial leverage) are quite different in nature and we look at different metrics to calculate them, we need to discuss it in detail to understand them better.

• Operating leverage can be defined as firm’s ability to use fixed costs (or expenses) to generate better returns for the firm.
• Financial leverage can be defined as firm’s ability to increase better returns and to reduce the cost of the firm by paying lesser taxes.

Operating leverage, on one hand, compares how well a firm uses its fixed costs and financial leverage, on the other hand, looks at various capital structures and chooses the one which reduces taxes most.

In this article, we at the comparative analysis of operating leverage vs financial leverage.

Without any ado, let’s get started with the head to head differences between operating leverage and financial leverage in an infographics

Operating Leverage vs Financial leverage Infographics

Let’s look at the top differences between operating leverage and financial leverage below –

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Operating Leverage vs Financial leverage (Comparison Table)

Basis for Comparison between Financial Leverage vs Operating Leverage	Operating Leverage	Financial Leverage
1.    Meaning	Operating leverage can be defined as firm’s ability to use fixed costs to generate more returns.	Financial leverage can be defined as firm’s ability use capital structure to earn better returns and to reduce taxes.
2.    What it’s all about?	It’s about the fixed costs of the firm.	It’s about the capital structure of the firm.
3.    Measurement	Operating leverage measures the operating risk of a business.	Financial leverage measures the financial risk of a business.
4.    Calculation	Operating leverage can be calculated when we divide contribution by EBIT of the firm.	Financial leverage can be calculated when we divide EBIT by EBT of the firm.
5.    Impact	When degree of operating leverage is higher, it depicts more operating risk for the firm and vice versa.	When degree of financial leverage is higher, it depicts more financial risk for the firm and vice versa.
6.    In relation with	The degree of operating leverage is usually higher than Break Even Point.	Financial leverage has a direct relationship with the liability side of the balance sheet.
7.    How much it is preferred?	The preference is lower.	The preference is much higher.

Conclusion

Operating leverage and Financial leverage are both important in their own terms. And they both help businesses in generating better returns and reduce costs. So the question remains can a firm use both of these leverages? The answer is yes.

If a company can use their fixed costs well, they would be able to generate better returns just by using operating leverage. And at the same time, they can use financial leverage by changing their capital structure from total equity to 50-50, 60-40, or 70-30 equity-debt proportion. Even if changing the capital structure would prompt the company to pay interests, still, they would be able to generate a better rate of returns and would be able to reduce the amount of taxes at the same time.

That’s why using operating leverage and financial leverage is a great way to improve the rate of returns of the company and to reduce the costs during a particular period.

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This has a been a guide to the top differences between Operating Leverage vs Financial Leverage. Here we also discuss the Operating Leverage and Financial Leverage differences with examples, infographics, and comparison table. You may also have a look at the following articles for gaining further knowledge in corporate finance –

• What is the Degree of Operating Leverage (DOL)?
• Double Entry System of Financial Accounting
• Cost Accounting Examples
• What is Financial Risk
• Cost Accounting vs Financial Accounting
• 4 Types of Business Risk
• Differences Between Business Risk vs Financial Risk
• Leverage Ratios Examples
• Debt vs Equity