DuPont analysis
DuPont analysis (also known as the DuPont identity, DuPont equation, DuPont framework, DuPont model, DuPont method or DuPont system) is a tool used in financial analysis, where return on equity (ROE) is separated into its component parts.
Useful in several contexts, this "decomposition" of ROE allows
The name derives from the DuPont company, which began using this formula in the 1920s. A DuPont explosives salesman, Donaldson Brown, submitted an internal efficiency report to his superiors in 1912 that contained the formula.[2]
Basic formula
The DuPont analysis breaks down ROE into three component parts, which may then be managed individually:
- Profitability: measured by profit margin
- Asset efficiency: measured by asset turnover
- equity multiplier
- ROE = (Profit margin)×(Asset turnover)×(Equity multiplier) = Average Equity= Net Profit/Equity
Or
- ROE = Profit/Sales×Sales/Assets = Profit/Assets×Assets/Equity
Or
- ROE = ROS×AT = ROA×Leverage
ROE analysis
The DuPont analysis breaks down ROE (that is, the returns that investors receive from a single dollar of equity) into three distinct elements. This analysis enables the manager or analyst to understand the source of superior (or inferior) return by comparison with companies in similar industries (or between industries). See Return on equity § The DuPont formula for further context.
The DuPont analysis is less useful for industries such as investment banking, in which the underlying elements are not meaningful (see related discussion: Valuation (finance) § Valuing financial services firms). Variations of the DuPont analysis have been developed for industries where the elements are weakly meaningful,[citation needed] for example:
High margin industries
Some industries, such as the
High turnover industries
Certain types of retail operations, particularly stores, may have very low profit margins on sales, and relatively moderate leverage. In contrast, though, groceries may have very high turnover, selling a significant multiple of their assets per year. The ROE of such firms may be particularly dependent on performance of this metric, and hence asset turnover may be studied extremely carefully for signs of under-, or, over-performance. For example, same-store sales of many retailers is considered important as an indication that the firm is deriving greater profits from existing stores (rather than showing improved performance by continually opening stores).
High leverage industries
Some sectors, such as the
ROA and ROE ratio
The return on assets (ROA) ratio developed by DuPont for its own use is now used by many firms to evaluate how effectively assets are used. It measures the combined effects of profit margins and asset turnover.[3]
The return on equity (ROE) ratio is a measure of the rate of return to stockholders.[4] Decomposing the ROE into various factors influencing company performance is often called the DuPont system.[5]
- Where
- Net Income = pre-tax income after taxes
- Equity = shareholders' equity
- EBIT = Earnings before interest and taxes
- Pretax Income is often reported as Earnings Before Taxes or EBT
This decomposition presents various ratios used in fundamental analysis.
- The company's tax burden is (Net income ÷ Pretax profit). This is the proportion of the company's profits retained after paying income taxes. [NI/EBT]
- The company's interest burden is (Pretax income ÷ EBIT). This will be 1.00 for a firm with no debt or financial leverage. [EBT/EBIT]
- The company's operating income margin or return on sales(ROS) is (EBIT ÷ Revenue). This is the operating income per dollar of sales. [EBIT/Revenue]
- The company's asset turnover (ATO) is (Revenue ÷ Average Total Assets).
- The company's equity multiplier is (Average Total Assets ÷ Average Total Equity). This is a measure of financial leverage.
References
- ^ a b Marshall Hargrave (2022). Dupont Analysis, Investopedia.
- ^ Phillips, Matt (9 December 2015). "The DuPont invention that changed how things work in the corporate world". Quartz (publication). Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ISBN 0-7641-1275-9.
- ISBN 0-7641-1275-9.
- ISBN 0-07-251077-3.