Skip to main content Skip to main content

Target Capital Structure

The debt-to-equity ratio a company has publicly committed to maintain over the forecast period, distinct from the snapshot ratio on the current balance sheet. The target capital structure is the right input for WACC in a forward DCF because the discount rate must reflect the financing mix that will produce the cash flows being discounted, not the historical mix. Common target structures: industrial mid-caps target 20-30% debt; capital-intensive utilities target 40-50%; mature consumer staples target 10-20%.

Lessons that use this term

Related terms

Ambiguity Aversion · Anchored Assumption · Asset Beta · Bank ROE Spread · Banker Pitch Deck · Beta

Open this term in the app → — no account needed; browse the full glossary while you research.