Advertisement
U.S. markets close in 5 hours 20 minutes
  • S&P 500

    5,252.27
    +3.78 (+0.07%)
     
  • Dow 30

    39,736.05
    -24.03 (-0.06%)
     
  • Nasdaq

    16,399.83
    +0.31 (+0.00%)
     
  • Russell 2000

    2,121.16
    +6.82 (+0.32%)
     
  • Crude Oil

    82.44
    +1.09 (+1.34%)
     
  • Gold

    2,227.40
    +14.70 (+0.66%)
     
  • Silver

    24.76
    +0.01 (+0.03%)
     
  • EUR/USD

    1.0807
    -0.0022 (-0.21%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.2000
    +0.0040 (+0.10%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2638
    -0.0000 (-0.00%)
     
  • USD/JPY

    151.2700
    +0.0240 (+0.02%)
     
  • Bitcoin USD

    71,268.72
    +1,385.73 (+1.98%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • FTSE 100

    7,961.15
    +29.17 (+0.37%)
     
  • Nikkei 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     

Should Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG) Focus On Improving This Fundamental Metric?

Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Hub Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HUBG).

Over the last twelve months Hub Group has recorded a ROE of 11%. That means that for every $1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated $0.11 in profit.

See our latest analysis for Hub Group

How Do You Calculate ROE?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit ÷ Shareholders' Equity

Or for Hub Group:

11% = US$113m ÷ US$1.0b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does Return On Equity Signify?

ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the profit over the last twelve months. The higher the ROE, the more profit the company is making. So, as a general rule, a high ROE is a good thing. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses.

Does Hub Group Have A Good Return On Equity?

Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Hub Group has a lower ROE than the average (14%) in the Logistics industry classification.

NasdaqGS:HUBG Past Revenue and Net Income, December 4th 2019
NasdaqGS:HUBG Past Revenue and Net Income, December 4th 2019

Unfortunately, that's sub-optimal. It is better when the ROE is above industry average, but a low one doesn't necessarily mean the business is overpriced. Nonetheless, it could be useful to double-check if insiders have sold shares recently.

How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity?

Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Hub Group's Debt And Its 11% ROE

While Hub Group does have some debt, with debt to equity of just 0.28, we wouldn't say debt is excessive. The combination of modest debt and a very respectable ROE suggests this is a business worth watching. Careful use of debt to boost returns is often very good for shareholders. However, it could reduce the company's ability to take advantage of future opportunities.

But It's Just One Metric

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. In my book the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. If two companies have around the same level of debt to equity, and one has a higher ROE, I'd generally prefer the one with higher ROE.

But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.

Advertisement