Glossary

Return On Assets

Return on Assets (ROA) is a financial ratio that measures a company's profitability by assessing the efficiency of its use of assets to generate earnings.

Understanding the concept of return on assets

Return on assets (ROA) serves as a financial gauge, evaluating a company's profitability by dividing its net income by total assets. It's a tool used to gauge the efficiency of asset utilization in generating income.

Calculating return on assets

Here's the method for calculating return on assets:

Return on assets = Net income / Average total assets

This computation provides the percentage of net income derived from average total assets, a pivotal metric assessing a company's asset management effectiveness.

Applications of return on assets

Various industries and businesses utilize return on assets as a significant metric. Banks gauge the profitability of their lending and investment portfolios, manufacturers evaluate operational efficiency and capital allocation, while mutual funds, hedge funds, and individual investors utilize it for portfolio performance assessment and stock profitability evaluation.

Factors to consider in return on assets calculations

Several considerations are crucial when performing return on assets (ROA) calculations. The denominator should exclude intangible assets like goodwill. Operating income (EBIT) rather than total income should be used. Additionally, performing calculations on a per-share basis is essential to account for any share dilution from new issuances.