Kraft Heinz Co. (NASDAQ:KHC)

The debt to equity ratio exhibited fluctuations between 2015 and 2019. Initially, the ratio increased before stabilizing and then decreasing slightly. Total debt experienced an initial increase, followed by a period of relative stability and a subsequent decline. Shareholders’ equity demonstrated an increase initially, followed by a substantial decrease and then a period of relative stability.

Debt to Equity Ratio - Trend Analysis

The debt to equity ratio began at 0.44 in 2015, increasing to 0.56 in 2016. A slight decrease to 0.48 was observed in 2017, followed by a rise to 0.60 in 2018, representing the highest value within the observed period. The ratio concluded the period at 0.57 in 2019, indicating a modest decline from the prior year.

Total Debt - Trend Analysis

Total debt increased from US$25,234 million in 2015 to US$32,404 million in 2016, representing a significant increase. Subsequent years showed relative stability, with values of US$31,536 million, US$31,168 million, and US$29,244 million in 2017, 2018, and 2019 respectively. This indicates a leveling off and eventual slight reduction in overall debt.

Shareholders’ Equity - Trend Analysis

Shareholders’ equity experienced an initial increase from US$57,685 million in 2015 to US$66,034 million in 2017. A substantial decrease was then observed, falling to US$51,657 million in 2018 and remaining relatively stable at US$51,623 million in 2019. This suggests a significant shift in the company’s equity structure during this period.

The combined trends suggest that while debt initially increased, it subsequently stabilized and decreased slightly. Simultaneously, shareholders’ equity increased initially but then experienced a considerable decline and plateaued. The increasing debt to equity ratio in 2016 and 2018, coupled with the decrease in shareholders’ equity in 2018 and 2019, warrants further investigation into the underlying factors driving these changes.