What does gearing measure in a business context?

Gearing measures the financial risk of a company by analyzing its capital structure, particularly the ratio of debt to equity. A higher gearing ratio indicates that a larger proportion of the company is financed by borrowed money, which implies higher financial risk. This is because debt obligations must be met regardless of the business's financial performance, thus increasing vulnerability during downturns or periods of reduced cash flow.

While aspects such as profit margins, asset utilization efficiency, and revenue generation capability are important metrics for various analyses, they do not specifically relate to the degree of financial leverage and risk that a business holds in comparison to its equity financing. Gearing primarily focuses on the balance between debt and equity, enabling stakeholders to understand how leveraged a company is and the potential implications this has for its financial stability and risk profile.