What is interest coverage ratio?

This ratio is used to determine how easily a company can repay the interest outstanding on its debt commitments. The lower the ratio, the more the company is burdened by debt commitments. When a company's interest coverage ratio is 1.5 or lower, its ability to meet its interest expenses becomes questionable. An interest coverage ratio of < 1 indicates that the company is not generating sufficient revenue to satisfy its interest expenses. Formula:

ICR = EBIT / Interest Expenses

EBIT - Earnings Before Interest and Taxes