Business, finance and operations

Return on equity (ROE)

  • Business, finance and operations

Definition

How much profit a company makes for every euro invested by its shareholders.

Also called

ROE, Return on equity

Example

A net profit of €400k with €2m of shareholders’ equity gives an ROE of 20%.

For your role

Choose your role to see what this term means in your work.

Why it matters

It shows the return owners get on their investment.

Where it is used

Investor reports and company performance comparisons.

How to calculate it

Net profit ÷ shareholders’ equity × 100

Worked example

A net profit of €400k with €2m of shareholders’ equity gives an ROE of 20%.