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Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)What is ROIC? Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is a profitability and performance metric that measures how effectively a company uses its invested capital to generate
net operating profit. It helps answer the key question:
"For every dollar invested, how much profit do we generate?"
ROIC Formula: ROIC = NOPAT / Invested CapitalWhere:-
NOPAT = Net Operating Profit After Tax
-
Invested Capital = All capital used in operations (equity + debt, net of excess cash)
A ROIC higher than your Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) means you're creating value.
ROIC < WACC = destroying value.
PART 1 – Calculating NOPATStep 1: Start with EBIT - Revenue
- - Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
- - Operating Expenses (SG&A, R&D, etc.)
→
= EBIT (Operating Profit)[/list]
Step 2: Apply tax impact - NOPAT = EBIT × (1 – Tax Rate)
- This removes the effect of capital structure (debt vs. equity)
Example: - Revenue = $10,000,000
- COGS = $6,000,000
- Operating Expenses = $2,000,000
- EBIT = $2,000,000
- Tax Rate = 25%
→ NOPAT = $2,000,000 × (1 – 0.25) =
$1,500,000
PART 2 – Calculating Invested CapitalInvested Capital includes:- Net Working Capital = Current Assets – Current Liabilities
- Net Fixed Assets = Net PPE + Long-term Operating Assets
→
Invested Capital = NWC + Fixed Assets[/list]
Exclude:- Cash not required for operations
- Short-term investments
- Non-operating assets
Example:- Current Assets = $3,000,000
- Current Liabilities = $1,000,000
→ NWC = $2,000,000
- Net PPE = $5,000,000
- Long-term Assets = $1,000,000
→ Fixed Assets = $6,000,000
→
Total Invested Capital = $2,000,000 + $6,000,000 = $8,000,000
PART 3 – Calculating ROICUsing the examples above:
- NOPAT = $1,500,000
- Invested Capital = $8,000,000
ROIC = 1,500,000 / 8,000,000 = 18.75%
Why ROIC MattersROIC is the gold standard for measuring value creation:- Shows return regardless of capital structure (debt/equity)
- Compares performance between companies, industries, or over time
- Aligns with shareholder value – higher ROIC = stronger long-term performance
Benchmarks:- ROIC > 20%: Excellent
- ROIC between 10–20%: Good, depending on industry
- ROIC < WACC: Value destruction
Real-World Application: Cable Manufacturing ExampleLet's assume you run a cable plant.
Inputs:- Annual EBIT = $4,000,000
- Tax rate = 20%
→ NOPAT = $4M × (1 - 0.20) = $3,200,000
- Net Working Capital = $1,000,000
- Net Fixed Assets (Machines, Equipment, Facility) = $6,000,000
→ Invested Capital = $7,000,000
ROIC = 3,200,000 / 7,000,000 = 45.7% ✅This means for every $1 invested into your operations, you're earning $0.46 in profit – very efficient.
Final Notes:- ROIC removes accounting distortion by focusing on operations
- Helps identify bottlenecks in capital allocation
- Should be monitored monthly/quarterly along with KPIs like OEE, cash flow, and margin
Quote: "Earnings are an opinion, but cash is a fact." – Use ROIC to stay grounded.