Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)

What is ROIC?

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is the amount of money a company makes that is above the average cost of its debt and equity capital. ROIC can also be assessed or used to determine the value of other businesses or rival companies.

Formula and Calculation of ROIC

The calculation of ROIC is done by dividing the net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) by the invested capital.  

ROIC = NOPAT /Invested CapitalNOPATInvested Capital

ROIC can also be calculated through another method, 

ROIC = Net Income − Dividends/ Debt +Equity

Calculating NOPAT

NOPAT is a financial measure that shows the performance of the company net of taxes. It can be calculated using the following formula;

NOPAT = (Net Income + Non-operating Income Loss – Non-operating Income Gain + Interest Expense + Tax Expense) x (1 – Tax Rate) 

Calculating invested capital

Invested Capital is the total amount invested by shareholders, debt holders, and other lenders. It can be calculated by: 

Invested Capital = Net Working Capital + Net Fixed Assets + Net Intangible Assets 

Determining the Value of a Company

Determining the value of a company is very important to ensure proper valuation. There are various methods through which one can determine the value of a company. Some of them are: 

• Asset Approach: It calculates all the assets and liabilities of a company. Then the liabilities are subtracted from the assets. 

• Market Approach: It makes use of the company’s position in the stock market.  
• Income Approach: It is determined by dividing the annual earnings of the company by the current capitalization rate.  

Determining a Company’s Competitiveness

A company is considered to be a strong competitor if it earns more profits than its rivals. A company’s competitiveness can be determined by its market profile, customer segments, strengths, weaknesses, and position in the landscape, and method for delivering value. These aspects than can be compared with the same aspects of other companies to determine its position. Its position in the market, including respect, prices and stocks, can also be used as competitive measures

Relevance and Uses of Return on Invested Capital Formula

The ROIC formula is used in various sectors to assess how well the company has used its resources to yield maximum profit. It also has great relevance as it helps to compare the competitiveness and position of the company against its rival and how well it is doing in the sector. The formula can also be used to measure the amount of money that the company makes from its investment.  

How to Use ROIC

Let’s take the example of a company UVC. If the company has generated $1,00,00,000 in profits and has invested an average of $10,00,00,000, then ROIC is said to be equal to 10%. This means that the company generates $10 of net earnings for every $100 invested in the company.  

ROIC vs WACC

ROIC is the amount of money a firm makes that is above the average cost of its debt and equity capital. Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) represents a company’s total cost of capital, including common stock, preferred stock, bonds, and other types of debt. If a firm is generating more ROIC than WACC, then it means that the company is creating value, and if a firm is generating more WACC than ROIC, then it means that the company is destroying value.  

Value Drivers of ROIC

The value of ROIC is the product of invested capital turnover (revenue generated by each dollar spent), and margins (how much profit is retained after deducting costs). These two factors are important drivers of value when it comes to ROIC, to optimally assess profit.  

Components of ROIC

ROIC has the following components: 

ROIC Components = Revenue / Average Invested Capital × NOPAT / Revenue

Limitations of ROIC

While ROIC helps assess a company’s profit, it has some downsides to it. It tells us nothing about which part of the business is generating profit. It also does not take into account the holding periods of investment. There are also various possibilities of the measure being manipulated if the expected costs are not met.

Frequently Asked Questions