RETURN ON ASSETS Definition

RETURN ON ASSETS (ROA) shows the after tax earnings of assets. Return on assets is an indicator of how profitable a company is. Use this ratio annually to compare a business performance to the industry norms: The higher the ratio the greater the return on assets. However this has to be balanced against such factors as risk, sustainability and reinvestment in the business through development costs. 

Higher ROA is better, but extremely high ROA may be an indicator of vulnerability as to any sustainable competitive advantage.

Formula: Earnings After Tax (EAITDA) / Total Assets

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UNRESTRICTED ASSETS are assets / resources which are not restricted for use by legal or contractual requirements and may be used for any purpose.

OPTION is the formal reservation of the right to buy or sell property / assets at a certain price and / or within a given time in the future, e.g. a contract allowing, but not requiring, the holder to buy (call) or sell (put) a specific security at a specified price during a specified time period or on a specified date. Options may trade on exchanges or over­the-counter.

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