Corporate Finance Institute
Financial Ratios
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5
Return on Equity
Overview
Return on equity is a measure of a company’s annual return (net income) divided by the value of its
total shareholders’ equity, expressed as a percentage (e.g. 10%). Alternatively, ROE can also be
derived by dividing the firm’s dividend growth rate by its earnings retention rate (1-dividend payout
ratio). There are several ROE drivers, and we will further breakdown the ratio.
Formula
Interpretation
ROE provides a simple metric for evaluating returns. By comparing a company’s ROE to the
industry’s average, it is possible to pinpoint a company’s competitive advantage (or lack of
competitive advantage).
As it uses net income as the numerator, return on equity (ROE) looks at the firm’s bottom line to
gauge overall profitability for the firm’s owners and investors.
As an investor, this is an essential ratio to look at as it ultimately determines how attractive an
investment is. Return on equity is a
product of asset efficiency, profitability, and financial leverage.
Corporate Finance Institute
Financial Ratios
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