The return on equity is a measure of the profitability of a business in relation to the equity. Because shareholder's equity can be calculated by taking all assets and subtracting all liabilities, ROE can also be thought of as a return on assets minus liabilities.

What's a good return on equity?

ROEs of 15–20% are generally considered good. ROE is also a factor in stock valuation, in association with other financial ratios.

Is return on equity good or bad?

A rising ROE suggests that a company is increasing its profit generation without needing as much capital. It also indicates how well a company's management deploys shareholder capital. A higher ROE is usually better while a falling ROE may indicate a less efficient usage of equity capital.