Final answer:
The factors that determine a company's credit rating include the debt-equity ratio, current ratio, average interest rate on loans, and prior-year gross profit margin.
Step-by-step explanation:
A company's credit rating is determined by various factors that assess its financial health and ability to repay its debts. Factors that play a significant role in determining a company's credit rating include:
- The debt-equity ratio, which measures the proportion of a company's total debt to its shareholders' equity.
- The current ratio, which measures a company's ability to pay off its short-term liabilities using its short-term assets.
- The average interest rate paid on loans outstanding, which reflects the company's borrowing costs.
- The prior-year gross profit margin, which indicates the company's profitability.
These factors help credit rating agencies evaluate a company's creditworthiness and assign it a credit rating.