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AO WorldCHIX:AOL -2.48%74 Debt-to-Equity is 0.37 as of Mar. 2026, which is 61% below its 10-year median of 0.94. GuruFocus rates CHIX:AOL with a GF Score™ of 74/100 and a GF Value™ of £1.15 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 1 warning sign investors should review. Among 1,021 Retail - Cyclical companies, AO World ranks better than 62.49% on this metric.
A high debt to equity ratio generally means that a company has been aggressive in financing its growth with debt. This can result in volatile earnings as a result of the additional interest expense.
The historical rank and industry rank for AO World's Debt-to-Equity or its related term are showing as below:
CHIX:AOl'
s Debt-to-Equity Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 0.37 Med: 0.94 Max: 2.09
Current: 0.37
During the past 13 years, the highest Debt-to-Equity Ratio of AO World was 2.09. The lowest was 0.37. And the median was 0.94.
CHIX:AOl's Debt-to-Equity is ranked better than 62.49% of 1021
companies
in the Retail - Cyclical industry
Industry Median: 0.56
vs CHIX:AOl: 0.37
Because a company can increase its ROE % by having more financial leverage, it is important to watch the leverage ratio when investing in high ROE % companies.
AO World Debt-to-Equity Related Terms
AO World Debt-to-Equity Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for AO World's Debt-to-Equity can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
CHIX:AOL vs CASY, WSM, ULTA: Debt-to-Equity Comparison
For the Specialty Retail subindustry, AO World's Debt-to-Equity, along with its competitors' market caps and Debt-to-Equity data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
AO World Debt-to-Equity vs Retail - Cyclical Industry
For the Retail - Cyclical industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, AO World's Debt-to-Equity distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where AO World's Debt-to-Equity falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
AO World (CHIX:AOL) has a Debt-to-Equity of 0.37 as of Mar. 2026. Debt-to-Equity ratio represents the ratio of total debt to total company equity. View historical data on AO World and its competitors. This is 61% below median its historical median of 0.94. Over the past decade, AO World's Debt-to-Equity has ranged from 0.37 to 2.09. According to the industry distribution chart, AO World ranks #383 out of 1021 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, placing it in the top 37.5%.
Is AO World's Debt-to-Equity too high?
AO World's current Debt-to-Equity of 0.37 is 61% below median its 10-year median of 0.94. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 0.37 to a high of 2.09. The Retail - Cyclical industry median Debt-to-Equity is 0.56. AO World's value of 0.37 is 33.9% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, AO World ranks #383 out of 1021 companies in the Retail - Cyclical industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, AO World has a GF Score™ of 74/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does AO World's Debt-to-Equity compare to CASY and WSM?
According to the Retail - Cyclical industry distribution chart, AO World ranks #383 out of 1021 companies for Debt-to-Equity. This puts AO World in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Debt-to-Equity is 0.56. AO World's value of 0.37 is 33.9% below this benchmark. Historically, AO World's own Debt-to-Equity has ranged from 0.37 to 2.09 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 0.94 vs. the industry median of 0.56, AO World has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Debt-to-Equity for a Retail - Cyclical company?
The median Debt-to-Equity among Retail - Cyclical companies is 0.56, based on 1,021 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Debt-to-Equity significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Debt-to-Equity should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. AO World's current Debt-to-Equity of 0.37 is 33.9% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Debt-to-Equity mean?
A high Debt-to-Equity can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Debt-to-Equity ratio represents the ratio of total debt to total company equity. View historical data on AO World and its competitors. For the Retail - Cyclical industry, the median Debt-to-Equity is 0.56 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. AO World's current Debt-to-Equity is 0.37, which is 61% below median its own 10-year median of 0.94. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is AO World stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, AO World (CHIX:AOL) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is £1.15, compared to a current price of £0.96 — trading 16.1% below its estimated fair value. The current Debt-to-Equity is 0.37, which is 61% below median its 10-year median of 0.94 and 33.9% below the Retail - Cyclical industry median of 0.56. AO World's overall GF Score™ is 74/100 with 1 warning sign to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Debt-to-Equity calculated?
Debt-to-Equity is calculated from a company's financial statements. For AO World (CHIX:AOL), the current Debt-to-Equity is 0.37 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is AO World (CHIX:AOL) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, AO World stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of £0.96 is trading 16.1% below its estimated GF Value™ of £1.15.
GuruFocus considers AO World to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for CHIX:AOL:
Debt-to-Equity: 0.37 (61% below median its 10-year median of 0.94)
GF Value™: £1.15 vs. price of £0.96 (16.1% below fair value)
Industry Position: 33.9% below the Retail - Cyclical median (#383 of 1021)
No single metric tells the full story. See the CHIX:AOL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
AO World PLC is a European retailer that specializes in electrical products. The company's primary markets include essential domestic appliances, small domestic appliances, and audiovisual equipment. Within the domestic appliances category, AO collaborates with suppliers such as Fisher & Paykel, Daewoo, and Amica. The small domestic appliances segment encompasses a variety of appliances including food preparation appliances, kitchen appliances, and floorcare devices. Additionally, the company offers ancillary services to customers in the UK. AO's main geographical markets are the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.
74GF Score
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