Why does ROIC use EBIT as numerator, while ROE and ROA use Net Income?

I'm reading Rosenbaum, and they note that ROIC uses a pre-interest earnings numerator while ROE and ROA use an earnings metric net of interest expense.

Why is this? The book didn't really explain the reasoning behind this.

6 Comments
 
Most Helpful

You want to account for the effects of leverage when looking at ROE and ROA. Net income is the amount of income available to equity holders, so it makes sense to consider that as their return. In this case, you want a levered numerator.

Invested capital is comprised of both equity and debt capital, so you want to use a numerator that is unlevered, which in this case would be EBIT (as you're not accounting for the interest expense).

It's similar to how when you're doing a valuation based off FCF, using a levered free cash flow would give you an equity value while using an unlevered free cash flow would give you an enterprise value.

 

I think you're thinking that Assets = Liabilities + Equity in a literal sense. That's not the case. That equation just means that, in order for the balance sheet to balance, the size of your assets must be equal to the size of your liabilities plus your equity (to remain solvent, liquid, and operational).

 

May be wrong here (just a sophomore) but ROE and ROA naturally are equity metrics so it makes sense to incorporate interest expense, since that will not go towards the company's equity holders. ROA may be a little more iffy but I think it is still valid because the assets don't incorporate the liabilities of the company.

Think about it this way: if a company levers up and another does not would their ROE metrics make sense if it were EBIT/Equity? The levered company is going to have much higher EBIT and appear to have a greater ROE. Likewise, if you use Net Income/Invested Capital the company without leverage is going to seem much more attractive because of the interest expense, even though the invested capital is generating a much greater rate of return to all investors.

For ROIC you are looking at ALL invested capital, so you should use EBIT which is cash flow that is received by both equity and debt holders.

 

Labore aspernatur qui hic quod. In facere necessitatibus architecto perferendis qui. Quaerat quas molestiae ratione asperiores ea.

Sit fugit nihil accusantium. Voluptates dolores enim qui omnis facere ex sapiente. Sit quo suscipit quasi at eos numquam repellendus. Assumenda dolore quia sapiente quibusdam. Fuga excepturi voluptatem autem quam at.

Ab similique in quo rerum. Reiciendis in odit voluptates et. Delectus ut numquam quo voluptatem vel. Voluptatem voluptatem nihil ad rem dicta. Corporis aut commodi harum dolorum et laborum.

Debitis aut eos sint reprehenderit non quia illum. Similique aut mollitia sed assumenda dignissimos. Odit dignissimos aspernatur natus commodi.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”