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SEBI Office: Plot No. C4-A, 'G' Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra(East), Mumbai - 400051

14th & 18th Floor, Berger Delhi One, Sector 16B, Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar – 201301

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SEBI Office: 2nd Floor, Jeevan Mangal Building, No.4, Residency Road, Bengaluru - 560025

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Workafella No.10, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakam, Chennai - 600034

SEBI Office: 7th Floor, 756-L, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002

Unit No. 701, A Wing, 7th floor, Sunteck Kanaka Corporate Park, Patto, Panjim, Goa - 403001

SEBI Office: 6th Floor, EDC House, Atmaram Borkar Road, Panaji - 403001, Goa

1-111, Raheja Woods 8, Central Avenue, Kalyani Nagar, Pune, MH 411006

SEBI Office: Plot No. C4-A, 'G' Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra(East), Mumbai - 400051

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916, PS Arcadia, Level 9, 4A, Camac Street, Kolkata 700016

SEBI Office: L&T Chambers, 3rd Floor, 16 Camac Street, Kolkata - 700017, West Bengal

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GA-04, Block15, Ground Floor, Pragya Accelerator, Rd 1C, Gift City, Gandhinagar - 382355, Gujarat

Understanding Return on Equity: A Key Metric for Smarter Stock Selection

article • Investment Management
Vipul Bhowar
04 August 2025 | 5 MINUTES

In equity investing, Return on Equity (ROE) remains one of the most widely used metrics for assessing a company’s ability to generate profits from shareholders’ funds. While it may seem straightforward, the true power of ROE lies in understanding what drives it, how it varies across industries, and how it should be interpreted in context.

A consistently high ROE is often a hallmark of a well-managed company. It signals that management is effectively using shareholder capital to generate earnings through operational control, strategic decision-making, and efficient capital allocation. Sustained or improving ROE over time generally points to sound financial management, stable profit generation, and the potential to enhance shareholder value.

The Drivers of ROE – Insights from the DuPont Model

To understand why a company’s ROE is high or low, investors often turn to the DuPont model, which breaks ROE into three components: operational efficiency (profit margins), asset utilisation (asset turnover), and financial leverage (equity multiplier). This helps investors pinpoint whether changes in ROE stem from stronger profits, better use of assets, or increased debt. Another useful concept is the sustainable growth rate, which is the pace at which a company can grow without needing extra equity or debt.

Together, these tools allow for a deeper evaluation of whether a high ROE is sustainable or driven by short-term factors.

High vs Low ROE Industries

Different industries possess diverse capital structures and asset intensities, so a "good' ROE in one sector may be considered average or low in another. For instance, utility companies typically exhibit ROEs around 10%, whereas technology firms may surpass 18%, owing to lower capital requirements. Industries characterised by high ROE, such as software, financial services, branded consumer goods, and specialised manufacturing, tend to exhibit high profit margins and/or require minimal capital investment. Conversely, capital-intensive or heavily regulated industries, such as utilities, telecommunications, food production, and traditional manufacturing, generally exhibit lower ROE.

It is important to compare companies against their industry peers, rather than a universal benchmark.

Why ROE Alone is Not Enough

While ROE is valuable, it should never be the sole basis for investment decisions. Pairing it with complementary metrics provides a more rounded view of a company’s health. Metrics like Return on Assets (ROA), Debt-to-Equity (D/E) ratio, Return on Capital Employed (ROCE), Economic Value Added (EVA), profit margins, asset turnover, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), Earnings Per Share (EPS) growth, and growth rate provide a comprehensive understanding of a company’s profitability, efficiency, leverage, and risk profile.

By integrating these measures, investors can identify companies that not only generate strong returns for shareholders but also do so in a sustainable, efficient, and low-risk manner.

Final Thoughts

ROE remains a cornerstone of equity analysis, but context is crucial. By examining its drivers, comparing within industry norms, and pairing it with complementary indicators, investors can better identify companies with genuine long-term value creation potential.

From the Vault

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*Kindly note that this form does not operate as a job portal, and the HR Team will not receive information regarding your candidature
Follow Us
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Follow Us
linkedin youtube twitter instagram
Offices

142, 14th Floor, Maker Chambers VI, Nariman Point, Mumbai - 400021

7, Avighna House, 82, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli Naka, Siddharth Nagar, Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018

SEBI Office: Plot No. C4-A, 'G' Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra(East), Mumbai - 400051

14th & 18th Floor, Berger Delhi One, Sector 16B, Noida, Gautam Budh Nagar – 201301

SEBI Office: NBCC Complex, Office Tower-1, 8th Floor, Plate B, East Kidwai Nagar, New Delhi – 110023

Bengaluru

Level 5, No. 501, Prestige Garnet, 36, Ulsoor Road, Bengaluru – 560042

SEBI Office: 2nd Floor, Jeevan Mangal Building, No.4, Residency Road, Bengaluru - 560025

Chennai

Workafella No.10, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam High Road, Nungambakam, Chennai - 600034

SEBI Office: 7th Floor, 756-L, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002

Unit No. 701, A Wing, 7th floor, Sunteck Kanaka Corporate Park, Patto, Panjim, Goa - 403001

SEBI Office: 6th Floor, EDC House, Atmaram Borkar Road, Panaji - 403001, Goa

1-111, Raheja Woods 8, Central Avenue, Kalyani Nagar, Pune, MH 411006

SEBI Office: Plot No. C4-A, 'G' Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra(East), Mumbai - 400051

Kolkata

916, PS Arcadia, Level 9, 4A, Camac Street, Kolkata 700016

SEBI Office: L&T Chambers, 3rd Floor, 16 Camac Street, Kolkata - 700017, West Bengal

Gujarat

GA-04, Block15, Ground Floor, Pragya Accelerator, Rd 1C, Gift City, Gandhinagar - 382355, Gujarat