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 financial managers to focus on the key metrics of financial performance individually, and thereby to identify strengths and weaknesses within the company that should be addressed.[1] Similarly, it allows investors to compare the operational efficiency of two comparable firms.[1]
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]
The DuPont analysis breaks down ROE into three component parts, which may then be managed individually:
Or
Or
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 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:). Variations of the DuPont analysis have been developed for industries where the elements are weakly meaningful, for example:
Some industries, such as the fashion industry, may derive a substantial portion of their income from selling at a higher margin, rather than higher sales. For high-end fashion brands, increasing sales without sacrificing margin may be critical. The DuPont analysis allows analysts to determine which of the elements is dominant in any change of ROE.
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).
Some sectors, such as the financial sector, rely on high leverage to generate acceptable ROE. Other industries would see high levels of leverage as unacceptably risky. DuPont analysis enables third parties that rely primarily on their financial statements to compare leverage among similar companies.
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]
ROA=
| NetIncome | |
| Revenue |
x
| Revenue | |
| AverageTotalAssets |
=
| Netincome | |
| AverageTotalAssets |
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]
ROE=
| NetIncome | |
| AverageTotalEquity |
=
| NetIncome | |
| PretaxIncome |
x
| PretaxIncome | |
| EBIT |
x
| EBIT | |
| Revenue |
x
| Revenue | |
| AverageTotalAssets |
x
| AverageTotalAssets | |
| AverageTotalEquity |
Where
This decomposition presents various ratios used in fundamental analysis.