Investors, when analyzing stocks, should look at ROE analysis ( Return on Equity) as a key metric. ROE measures how well a company’s managers are growing profit as a percentage of the company’s overall net assets. It is calculated by dividing net income by shareholders’ equity.
ROE = (Net Income / Shareholders’ Equity) x 100
Net Income can be found on a company’s income statement, while Shareholders’ Equity can be found on the balance sheet or calculated by subtracting the company’s liabilities from its assets. ROE is typically expressed as a percentage and helps investors and analysts understand how efficiently a firm is using its investors’ money to generate profits. It is important to compare a company’s ROE to its historical ROE and the industry average to get a meaningful understanding of its performance.
A steadily increasing ROE is a hint that management is giving shareholders more for their money.
However, ROE is not an absolute indicator of investment value. It can be broken down into three components: profit margins, a measure of how much sales are being generated from net assets, and leverage. Companies with more debt (higher leverage) will often have bigger ROE. Therefore, looking at just the ROE analysis figure won’t tell you the whole story.
Other Metrics to use with ROE
Investors looking for a profitable stock should also review other key metrics, such as return on invested capital (ROIC), earnings per share (EPS), and return on total assets (ROTA). Moreover, ROE must be compared to the historical ROE of the company and to the industry’s ROE average. It is useful to compare a firm’s ROE to its cost of equity. A firm that has earned a return on equity higher than its cost of equity has added value for its shareholders.
In summary, ROE analysis is a useful metric for investors to evaluate how efficiently a company is utilizing its equity. However, it should be used in conjunction with other key metrics and compared to historical and industry averages to get a complete picture of a company’s financial health.