Return on Assets Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the return on assets calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Formulas Used

Return on Assets (ROA)

roa = (total_assets_start + total_assets_end) > 0 ? (net_income / ((total_assets_start + total_assets_end) / 2)) * 100 : 0

Average Total Assets

avg_assets = (total_assets_start + total_assets_end) / 2

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
net_incomeNet Income(USD)150000
total_assets_startTotal Assets (Beginning)(USD)900000
total_assets_endTotal Assets (End)(USD)1100000

How It Works

How to Calculate Return on Assets

Formula

ROA = (Net Income / Average Total Assets) x 100

ROA tells you how many cents of profit each dollar of assets generates. It combines profitability and asset efficiency into a single metric. Companies with high ROA are squeezing strong profit from a lean asset base, which is a hallmark of well-managed businesses.

Worked Example

A company earned $150,000 in net income. Total assets were $900,000 at the start and $1,100,000 at the end.

net_income = 150000total_assets_start = 900000total_assets_end = 1100000
  1. 01Average Total Assets = ($900,000 + $1,100,000) / 2 = $1,000,000
  2. 02ROA = ($150,000 / $1,000,000) x 100 = 15%
  3. 03Each dollar of assets produced 15 cents of net income.

Ready to run the numbers?

Open Return on Assets Calculator