Return on Invested Capital

A percentage measure of return generated by a company from its investments

Author: Andy Yan
Andy Yan
Andy Yan
Investment Banking | Corporate Development

Before deciding to pursue his MBA, Andy previously spent two years at Credit Suisse in Investment Banking, primarily working on M&A and IPO transactions. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Andy was a Business Analyst Intern for Capital One and worked as an associate for Cambridge Realty Capital Companies.

Andy graduated from University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics and is currently an MBA candidate at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a concentration in Analytical Finance.

Reviewed By: David Bickerton
David Bickerton
David Bickerton
Asset Management | Financial Analysis

Previously a Portfolio Manager for MDH Investment Management, David has been with the firm for nearly a decade, serving as President since 2015. He has extensive experience in wealth management, investments and portfolio management.

David holds a BS from Miami University in Finance.

Last Updated:December 8, 2023

What is ROIC?

Return on invested capital (ROIC) is a financial ratio that measures a company's profitability in relation to capital investment.

To calculate ROIC, you divide net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) by Invested Capital, which includes equity, debt, and other long-term investments. In simpler terms, ROIC looks at how well a company is generating returns on the money invested by shareholders, creditors, and other stakeholders.

A company's ability to generate returns on the capital invested by shareholders, creditors, and other stakeholders directly correlates with this key indicator.

It helps investors and analysts compare a company's profitability to that of others in the same industry or sector. A business with a high ratio is thought to be more effective at generating returns on its invested capital, which may increase shareholder value.

It is a crucial financial ratio that should be considered when assessing a company's overall performance because it considers both equity and debt investments. In addition, it is a useful measure of profitability because it gives a complete picture of a company's performance.

Although it is frequently compared to other financial ratios like return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA), it is generally regarded as a more precise indicator of a company's profitability.

Key Takeaways

  • ROIC gauges how well a company generates profits from its invested capital.
  • Unlike other ratios, ROIC includes both equity and debt for a precise profitability picture.
  • Companies with high ROIC use resources effectively, boosting profits and shareholder value.
  • ROIC helps compare companies, spot capital misallocation, and predict future growth potential.
  • ROIC reveals financial health, growth ability, and value for investors, guiding smart decisions.

Understanding Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

Companies with high ratios can use their capital efficiently, which results in higher profits and value for shareholders. In this article, we will discuss the idea behind it, how it is calculated, how important it is, and how it is compared to other financial ratios.

By measuring a company's capacity to generate returns over time, ROIC also provides insight into its long-term prospects.

It is an essential metric because it helps investors comprehend the company's potential to generate returns and expand in the future. Businesses with high ROIC ratios can frequently reinvest their profits into the company, resulting in increased levels of growth and profitability.

Because it provides a clear picture of the company's capacity to use its resources effectively and efficiently, it is also an important metric for management. Generally, investors, analysts, and management can use ROIC to evaluate a company's overall financial health and performance.

It provides a comprehensive view of a company's capacity to generate returns on capital investments and grow over the long term. The significance of ROIC in the process of making investment decisions cannot be overstated.

What is Return on Invested Capital?

Return on contributed capital (ROIC) is a monetary proportion that benefits an organization comparable to the capital put resources into it. It is determined by separating the organization's net working benefit after the charge (NOPAT) by its contributed capital.

Contributed capital alludes to the aggregate sum of capital put resources into the organization, including value, obligation, and other long-haul ventures.

It is a proportion of the productivity with which an organization can create returns on the capital and put resources.

It demonstrates the productivity of the organization's activities and assists financial backers and examiners with evaluating the adequacy of the organization's administration in conveying its capital.

ROIC = (NOPAT / Invested Capital) x 100

  • NOPAT (Net Operating Profit After Tax): calculated by subtracting operating expenses from revenue and then subtracting taxes.
  • Invested capital: the total amount of capital invested in the company, including equity, debt, and other long-term investments.

It is important to note that the formula has several variations depending on the specific data and calculations used. For example, some analysts may exclude certain items from the invested capital calculation, such as goodwill or intangible assets, or use different methods for calculating NOPAT.

ROIC Example

Company XYZ has the following financial data:

  • Revenue: $1,000,000
  • Operating expenses: $600,000
  • Taxes: $100,000
  • Equity: $500,000
  • Debt: $300,000

To calculate NOPAT:

Operating profit = Revenue - Operating expenses = $1,000,000 - $600,000 = $400,000

NOPAT = Operating profit - Taxes = $400,000 - $100,000 = $300,000

To calculate invested capital:

Invested capital = Equity + Debt = $500,000 + $300,000 = $800,000

To calculate ROIC:

ROIC = (NOPAT / Invested Capital) x 100 = ($300,000 / $800,000) x 100 = 37.5%

In this example, Company XYZ has an ROIC of 37.5%, which indicates that it can generate a return of 37.5 cents for every dollar of capital invested in the company.

Importance of Return on Invested Capital

Return on Contributed Capital is an important monetary proportion for financial backers and examiners as it assists with evaluating the viability of an organization's administration in conveying its capital.

Organizations with high proportions are viewed as more productive in creating returns on their contributed capital, which can prompt higher investor esteem. It is also significant for looking at various organizations' productivity in a similar industry or area.

By looking at the proportions of various organizations, financial backers can distinguish those that are more successful in producing returns on their contributed capital.

1. Meaning of ROIC

It is a proportion of an organization's productivity corresponding to the capital put resources into it, making it a helpful mark of the proficiency of an organization's tasks.

2. High ROIC benefits

It shows that an organization can produce returns on its contributed capital, which can prompt expanded investor esteem.

3. Significance for Financial backers and Experts 

It is a significant monetary proportion for financial backers and experts as it assists with surveying the viability of an organization's administration in conveying its capital.

4. Correlation with different organizations

It is a valuable device for looking at various organizations' benefits in a similar industry or area. 

Note

It is a valuable measurement for evaluating the manageability of an organization's benefit after some time.

5. Distinguishing Misallocation of Capital

It may be utilized well to recognize organizations that are misallocating or not utilizing their capital.

6. Esteeming an Organization

It is a vital part of esteeming an organization, as it assists with deciding the profits that a financial backer can anticipate on their speculation.

7. Assessing Venture Hazard 

It is a significant thought while assessing the possible gamble of speculation. An organization with a low ROIC might be doubtful to create returns on its contributed capital.

8. Instructive Independent direction 

It can assist financial backers and experts in arriving at informed conclusions about which organizations to put resources into or keep away from.

9. Following for Further developed Execution

It is a significant monetary proportion for organizations to follow, as it can assist them with distinguishing regions for development and pursuing vital choices to increment productivity. 

Comparing Return on Invested Capital to Other Financial Ratios

It is a key monetary proportion used to gauge an organization's capacity to produce returns from its contributed capital.

It is broadly utilized by financial backers, examiners, and monetary foundations to assess an organization's presentation and evaluate its true capacity for development. The higher the ratio, the better the organization performs and the more appealing it is to expected financial backers.

One of the significant benefits of involving it as a proportion of productivity is that it considers both value and obligation ventures.

This is significant because an organization might have high benefits yet elevated degrees of obligation, which can adversely influence its monetary solidness.

Remembering value and obligation for the estimation gives a more thorough perspective on an organization's monetary well-being.

Another benefit is that it gives an immediate correlation between the profits produced by an organization and how much capital is put into resources.

This makes it simpler to look at the presentation of various organizations and recognizes those most proficiently utilizing their assets.

It is likewise helpful for looking at an organization's exhibition over the long run, as it gives a proportion of the consistency of its productivity.

It can likewise be utilized to assess an organization's true capacity for future development. It demonstrates that an organization produces significant returns from its contributed capital, which can be reinvested in the business to help future development.

Then again, a law can show that an organization is attempting to create adequate returns and may have to rethink its business technique. It is critical to note that it is only one of a few monetary proportions used to assess an organization's exhibition and potential for development.

Other significant proportions remember to return for value (ROE) and return on resources (ROA). While these proportions give comparative data about an organization's productivity, Being the most thorough and precise measure is by and large considered.

It is a critical device for evaluating the monetary presentation of an organization and its true capacity for future development.

Considering value and obligation speculations gives a complete perspective on an organization's monetary well-being and assists financial backers with pursuing informed venture choices. 

Factors that can impact an organization's ROIC

A few factors can impact an organization's profit from contributed capital (ROIC).

Here are some of the primary variables to consider:

1. Monetary influence

An organization's utilization of obligation can impact its ROIC. A more significant level of obligation can build the ROIC if the organization can produce adequate re-visitations to cover the expense of getting. However, it can likewise expand the gamble of default if the organization can't create adequate returns.

2. Resource turnover

An organization's capacity to create income from its resources can influence its ROIC. Organizations with high resource turnover proportions, which show that they are utilizing their resources effectively to create income, may have higher ROICs.

3. Working edge

The benefit of an organization's tasks can influence its ROIC. For example, organizations with high working edges, which show that they are producing many benefits compared with their income, may have higher ROICs.

4. Capital design

The blend of value and obligation in an organization's capital design can influence its ROIC. For example, organizations with greater value than obligation might have higher ROICs and greater adaptability concerning their funding choices.

5. Industry and economic situations

The productivity of an organization can be impacted by the business in which it works and the general economic situation. 

Note

Organizations in ventures with higher overall revenues or in business sectors with positive monetary circumstances might have higher ROICs.

6. Rivalry

The degree of rivalry inside an industry can influence an organization's ROIC. For example, organizations working in exceptionally cutthroat business sectors might confront strain to reduce costs, affecting their productivity and ROIC.

7. Cost of capital

The expense of capital, which alludes to the pace of return that financial backers anticipate on their speculations, can impact an organization's ROIC. As a result, organizations with significant capital expenses might have to create better yields to live up to the assumptions of financial backers.

8. Amazing learning experiences

An organization's capacity to seek useful learning experiences, for example, venturing into new business sectors or sending off new items, can influence its ROIC. Organizations with solid development possibilities might have higher ROICs.

9. The executive’s productivity

The viability of an organization's administration in conveying capital can impact its ROIC. For example, organizations with proficient supervisory crews might be able to produce more significant yields on their contributed capital.

10. Charge rate

An organization's expense rate can influence its ROIC. For example, organizations with lower charge rates might have higher ROICs because of the lower charges they pay on their benefits.

Note

Debt levels, tax rates, operating expenses, and industry and market conditions changes can impact ROIC. A consistent and high ROIC can indicate a well-run and profitable company, while a low ROIC may indicate poor financial performance and mismanagement of investments.

Return on invested capital (ROIC) to assess company performance

Return on invested capital (ROIC) is a useful financial ratio for assessing a company's performance. Here are some ways in which ROIC can be used to evaluate a company's performance:

1. Comparing ROIC to industry benchmarks

Comparing a company's ROIC to the average or median ROIC of companies within the same industry can provide insight into its relative performance. 

A company with a higher ROIC than its peers may more efficiently generate returns on its invested capital.

2. Comparing ROIC to historical performance

Analyzing a company's ROIC over time can provide insight into the sustainability of its profitability. For example, if a company's ROIC steadily increases, it may perform well and effectively deploy its capital.

However, if a company's ROIC is declining, it may indicate deteriorating performance.

3. Comparing ROIC to other financial ratios

ROIC can be compared to other financial ratios, such as return on equity (ROE) and return on assets (ROA), to provide a more comprehensive view of a company's performance.

4. Analyzing the drivers of ROIC

Examining the factors contributing to a company's ROIC, such as asset turnover, operating margin, and financial leverage, can provide insight into the underlying drivers of its profitability.

5. Evaluating management's effectiveness

ROIC can be used to assess the effectiveness of a company's management in deploying capital. Companies with high ROICs may have more effective management teams.

6. Identifying opportunities for improvement

Analyzing a company's ROIC can help to identify areas where the company may improve its performance. 

Example

If a company has a low ROIC compared to its peers, it may improve its profitability by increasing its asset turnover or reducing its operating expenses.

7. Assessing the risk of an investment

ROIC can be used to evaluate the potential risk of an investment in a company. For example, companies with low ROICs may be less likely to generate returns on their invested capital, which can increase the risk of an investment.

8. Evaluating the potential for shareholder value

ROIC is important in determining shareholder value, reflecting the returns shareholders can expect on their investments. Therefore, companies with high ROICs are more likely to generate value for shareholders.

9. Assessing the potential for dividend payments

A company's ability to pay dividends is influenced by its profitability, and ROIC is a useful indicator of its ability to generate profits. 

Companies with high ROICs may be more likely to have the financial resources to pay dividends to shareholders.

10. Considering the impact of capital structure

ROIC is sensitive to a company's capital structure, considering equity and debt investments. 

Companies with high debt levels may have lower ROICs due to the additional interest expenses associated with borrowing. Therefore, analyzing a company's ROIC can help assess its capital structure's impact on its profitability.

Note

ROIC measures a company's profitability concerning its invested capital and provides a clear picture of how efficiently it uses its investment to generate returns.

Conclusion

All in all, return on contributed capital (ROIC) is a significant monetary proportion that measures the productivity of an organization comparable to the capital put resources into it.

It is determined by separating the organization's net working benefit after charge (NOPAT) by its contributed capital and is a critical sign of the proficiency and viability of the organization in producing returns on its contributed capital.

It is a significant proportion for financial backers and investigators as it assists with evaluating an organization's benefit and contrasting it with others inside a similar industry or area.

While it is frequently contrasted with other monetary proportions like profit from value (ROE) and return on resources (ROA), being the most exhaustive and exact proportion of an organization's profitability is by and large considered.

ROIC is viewed as a significant proportion for financial backers and experts since it assists them with assessing the organization's presentation regarding profits on the capital contributed.

It considers how well the administration utilizes the organization's assets to create returns.

Furthermore, it likewise assists with distinguishing the organization's true capacity for future development. Besides, it is a superior measure for contrasting organizations in various enterprises since it considers the different capital designs and speculation levels.

Researched and authored by Ashish Singh | Linkedin

Reviewed and edited by Parul Gupta | LinkedIn

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