DEBT SIGNALING

A theory that states that an announcement regarding a firm's debt can be used as a signal of the stock's future performance. A company announcement regarding the issuance of debt is said to signal positive news, while an announcement that states that debt will be taken on at a future date is said to be a negative signal about the company. Conversely, when the amount of future debt is reduced, investors may see this as a sign that the company is unable to make its interest payments and is in a weak financial situation.