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Explore the Sustainable Growth Rate to understand how fast a company can expand without needing additional external financing.
The Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) shows the maximum rate at which a company can grow its sales, earnings, and assets without needing to raise new external capital. It reflects how fast a business can expand using only the profits it keeps after paying dividends. This makes SGR a useful measure for understanding whether a company’s growth plans are realistic and financially healthy.
SGR links profitability, dividend policy, and financial leverage, providing an indication of whether a company’s growth aligns with its internally generated resources.
SGR is widely used in financial analysis because it shows whether a company’s growth is backed by its internal resources.
Helps assess whether the business can support its expansion without external funding
Highlights the balance between profitability and dividend payouts
Signals whether the company might need to raise debt or equity soon
Indicates financial health by comparing actual growth to sustainable growth
Useful for planning long-term strategies and managing capital efficiently
If a company grows faster than its SGR, it may face liquidity pressures. If it grows slower, it may not be using its capital effectively.
SGR is usually calculated using the retention ratio and return on equity. The standard formula is:
This formula helps estimate the maximum internally funded growth a company can achieve.
The retention ratio is:
So, the basic SGR becomes:
An expanded version also considers financial leverage:
This mirrors the components of ROE, offering a more detailed view.
The Sustainable Growth Rate is based on several assumptions:
The company maintains a constant capital structure
Profit margins remain stable over time
The dividend payout ratio does not change
Asset turnover and efficiency levels stay consistent
Growth is funded only through retained earnings
These assumptions mean SGR is used as a guiding metric rather than an absolute prediction.
Imagine a company with:
Return on Equity (ROE): 15%
Dividend Payout Ratio: 40%
Retention Ratio: 60% (1 – 0.40)
Using the SGR formula:
SGR = ROE × Retention Ratio
SGR = 15% × 60%
SGR = 9%
This means the company may grow at 9% annually without needing new external capital.
A simple way to estimate SGR is to input:
Dividend payout ratio
The tool then multiplies ROE by the retention ratio, giving a quick view of sustainable growth. Companies, analysts, and investors often use such calculators to test different scenarios.
While useful, SGR has several limitations:
Assumes business conditions remain stable
Relies on consistent margins and payout ratios
May not reflect changes in debt strategy or market conditions
Ignores external financing options that could alter growth potential
Can oversimplify growth for companies in rapidly changing industries
Therefore, SGR should be used along with other financial metrics for a complete assessment.
SGR may increase by improving financial performance and optimising capital allocation.
Increasing profit margins through cost control or pricing
Improving asset turnover by using resources more efficiently
Retaining more earnings by reducing payout ratios
Strengthening ROE with improved operations or strategic investments
Enhancing capital structure while maintaining financial discipline
These adjustments support long-term, internally funded expansion.
SGR is often compared with other measures of growth potential:
Internal Growth Rate (IGR): Assumes no borrowing; SGR includes leverage
Revenue Growth Rate: Shows top-line growth but not financial sustainability
Earnings Growth Rate: Focuses on profits but not the capital structure
Return on Equity Growth: Reflects profitability but not retention policies
SGR gives a more balanced view by linking profitability, reinvestment, and leverage.
The Sustainable Growth Rate offers a clear view of how much a business can expand without relying on external funding. It helps evaluate whether growth strategies are achievable and whether the company is balancing profitability with financial stability. Despite depending on certain assumptions, it remains a useful reference for understanding long-term sustainability, capital efficiency, and potential funding requirements.
Growth insights to remember:
The Sustainable Growth Rate shows how fast a company can grow using only retained profits.
It helps assess whether expansion plans are financially realistic.
It reflects long-term performance, capital efficiency, and funding discipline.
It highlights when external financing may be needed to support growth.
Though assumption-based, it remains a useful benchmark for strategic planning.
This content is for informational purposes only and the same should not be construed as investment advice. Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited shall not be liable or responsible for any investment decision that you may take based on this content.
The Sustainable Growth Rate incorporates the effect of financial leverage by assuming the firm can use both retained earnings and debt to support growth. The Internal Growth Rate, however, assumes expansion funded only through retained earnings, without borrowing.
The SGR framework assumes stable profit margins, a consistent dividend payout ratio, steady leverage levels, and growth funded entirely through retained earnings. It relies on financial and operational stability for accuracy.
The SGR is less reliable in periods of economic or operational volatility because it assumes no significant changes in capital structure, margins, or market conditions. Shifts in these factors can cause actual growth to diverge from the calculated rate.
The SGR is calculated using the formula: SGR = Return on Equity (ROE) × (1 – Dividend Payout Ratio). This represents the maximum growth a company can maintain without altering its leverage or requiring external equity.
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