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What is Return on Equity (ROE)?

One number you should look at first before putting money into a company is the Return on Equity (ROE).  It shows how well the business is making money with your money and the money of other owners.

Consider it a quick test of how well your money is being spent: how much profit are you getting back for every rupee (or dollar) you put in?  The math is simple: ROE = Net Income ÷ Shareholders' Equity.

By looking at ROE, you're not just seeing a number; you're also seeing how well the company can turn your investment into steady, long-term profits. It tells you if your money is working hard enough.

Formula to Calculate ROE

Grab the net income (usually after preferred dividends) from the income statement and the shareholders’ equity (assets minus liabilities) from the balance sheet. Divide net income by shareholders’ equity—and if you want a fairer result, use the average equity across the year.

How to Calculate ROE?

Here’s a quick table:

Input Type

What It Is

Net Income

Profit after taxes (and preferred dividends)

Shareholders’ Equity

Assets minus liabilities

Average Shareholders’ Equity

(Beginning Equity + Ending Equity) ÷ 2

What is an Ideal Return on Equity?

Finding your sweet spot for ROE can depend on the industry—but here are some general pointers:

  • Look for consistency: A stable or rising ROE over time often signals strong, reliable performance.

  • Beware of unusually high ROE: Very high values could mean the company is taking on more debt to shrink equity, which ups the risk.

  • Compare with peers: What’s considered “good” varies widely—tech companies often boast high ROE, while utilities tend to have much lower ones.

  • Bonus check—growth future: Some top growth stocks keep ROEs at 17–50%, showing outstanding return and investor confidence.

How to Interpret ROE? 

Quick gauge of efficiency: ROE is all about how smartly the company is using your equity to turn a profit.

Needs context and comparison: Don’t judge in isolation—see how it measures up over time and against similar firms to get the full picture.

Examples of High & Low ROE Companies

One example of a company with a high return on equity is Apple Inc., which had an ROE of 175.46%in Jan 2023*. This is primarily because of the company's strong capital structure, which includes low debt and high cash reserves, resulting in improved profitability. On the other hand, Uber Technologies had a negative return on equity of -81.7% in the period*.

By studying companies with different ROE levels, we can have a glimpse of how businesses manage their capital structure.

Limitations Of ROE - Why is ROE considered an Imperfect Scale?

There are flaws in even useful measures. ROE is no different:

Debt Can Throw Off the Numbers:

If a business takes on heavy borrowing, its asset base shrinks, which can artificially boost ROE. However, this doesn’t reflect genuine profit growth or stronger operational performance.

One-Time Wins Make Things Less Clear:

ROE may rise due to one-time profits that won’t recur, but this increase does not necessarily indicate an improvement in ongoing operational success or the company’s fundamental performance.

Negative or Very Little Equity Makes It Useless:

ROE becomes unreliable when a company has negative or minimal equity, making the measure misleading. In such cases, it cannot be trusted to reflect true profitability or financial performance.

Not Great for Cross-Industry Comparisons: 

Industries differ greatly, so comparing a bank’s ROE with a utility’s is misleading—like comparing apples to oranges—since business models, risks, and capital structures are not the same.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a reliable, comprehensive metric to track the profitability of high-leverage companies, ROE is preferable bet. Bajaj Broking. offers demat account with various subscription packs that helps you save big on brokerage. Contact us today to get started!

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