Identify four profitability ratios, and write out their equations.
Why is the basic earning power ratio useful?
Why does the use of debt lower the ROA?
What does ROE measure? Since interest expense lowers profits and
thus the ROA, does using debt necessarily lower the ROE? Explain.
A company has $20 billion of sales and $1 billion of net income. Its
total assets are $10 billion, financed half by debt and half by com-
mon equity. What is its profit margin? (5%) What is its ROA? (10%)
What is its ROE? (20%) Would ROA increase if the firm used less
leverage? (yes) Would ROE increase?
Describe three ratios that relate a firm’s stock price to its earnings,
cash flow, and book value per share, and write out their equations.
How do these market value ratios reflect investor’s opinions about a
stock’s risk and expected future growth?
What does the price/earnings (P/E) ratio show? If one firm’s P/E
ratio is lower than that of another, what are some factors that might
explain the difference?
How is book value per share calculated? Explain how inflation and
“goodwill” built up over time could cause book values to deviate
from market values
