First, we must take the net revenue and the cost of goods sold (COGS) figures from the income statement.Gross Profit Margin Example Calculationįor our example modeling exercise, we’ll be calculating and comparing the gross margin of three companies, with each having different revenue and COGS assumptions. We’ll now move to a modeling exercise, which you can access by filling out the form below. Gross Profit Margin Calculator – Excel Template The gross margin, unlike the net margin, is largely unaffected by financing decisions or discretionary accounting policies such as useful life assumptions for purchases of PP&E or differences in the tax rate.
The gross profit metric tends to be better suited for peer comparisons since there is far lower potential for manipulation via discretionary accounting decisions by management. In contrast, the gross margin accounts for just one outflow of cash, which is the direct costs associated with the production of revenue. post-debt) and flows solely to equity holders is one of the primary drawbacks to the net margin metric. The fact that net income is “levered” (i.e. COGS), while the net profit margin accounts for all expenses, including operating expenses and non-operating expenses. The gross profit margin only accounts for direct costs (i.e.
Three methods for companies to increase their gross margin are: An accurate assessment of the gross profit metric depends, however, on understanding the industry dynamics and the company’s current business model. Higher gross margins are usually viewed in a positive light, as the potential for higher operating margins and net profit margins increases. Nevertheless, industries with significant direct costs can still consist of market leaders with consistent profits that retain meaningful market shares (e.g. manufacturing, industrials, retail) normally have lower gross margins due to margin erosion from the direct costs related to building up inventory, manufacturing products, etc. consulting firms), whereas capital-intensive companies (e.g.
Service-based industries also tend to have higher gross margins since the COGS for such businesses are minimal (e.g.
#Gross profit percentcalculator software#
For any comparisons of gross margins to be useful, the companies must operate in the same or similar industry with available historical data dating back several years to get a better sense of the industry norm (and patterns).įor example, software companies have been known for having high gross margins, while clothing retailers have historically exhibited razor-thin gross margins and rely on volume to remain profitable. Interpreting a company’s gross margin as either “good” or “bad” depends substantially on the industry in which the company operates. Apple Gross Profit ExampleĪpple Gross Profit (Source: WSP Financial Statement Modeling) Interpreting the Gross Profit Margin Upon dividing the $7 million in gross profit by the $10 million in revenue and then multiplying by 100, we arrive at 70% as our gross margin.īased on the 70% gross margin, we can gather that the company has earned $0.70 in gross profit for each $1.00 of revenue. Typically, the gross margin is expressed in percentage form, which can be calculated by multiplying the resulting decimal value from the equation above by 100.įor a given period, the revenue and gross profit of a company will be found directly at the top of the income statement.įor example, if a company has generated $10 million in revenue with $3 million in COGS, the gross profit is $7 million. The COGS are matched to the associated revenues in the same time period, which is commonly known as the “ matching principle” of accounting. The gross profit is calculated by subtracting direct costs (COGS) from revenue, with direct costs referring to expenses directly tied to the production and delivery of specific goods and/or services (typically variable costs).