DELEVERAGE

Attempt of a company to decrease its financial leverage. The best way for a company to deliver is to immediately pay off any existing debt on its balance sheet. If it is unable to do this, the company will be in significant risk of defaulting. Companies will often take on excessive amounts of debt to initiate growth. However, using leverage substantially increases the riskiness of the firm. Any sign of deleverage shown by a company is a red flag to investors who require growth in their companies.