Business efficiency
The efficiency ratio, a ratio that typically applies to banks, in simple terms is defined as expenses as a percentage of revenue (expenses / revenue), with a few variations. A lower percentage is better since that means expenses are low and earnings are high. It relates to operating leverage, which measures the ratio between fixed costs and variable costs.
Contents |
Example [edit]
If expenses are $40 and revenue is $80 (perhaps net of interest revenue/expense) the efficiency ratio is 0.5 or 50% (40/80). Efficiency ratio is essentially how much you spend to make a dollar. In the above example, they spend $0.50 for every dollar they earn in revenue.
Citigroup [edit]
Citigroup, Inc. 2003:
- Revenues, net of interest expense: 77,442
- Operating expenses: 39,168
That makes operating expenses / revenue = 39,168/77,442 = 0.51 or 51%. The efficiency ratio is 0.51 or 51%.
Alternative [edit]
If "benefits, claims, and credit losses" are added to operating expenses the ratio gets worse.
51109/77,442=0.66
Alternative [edit]
If it's calculated as revenue divided by expenses (interest expense, "benefits, claims, and credit losses", operating expenses) it becomes 1 less the "income from continuing operations" margin.
68,380/94,713=0.72
See also [edit]
- Business margin
- Financial market efficiency
- Operating leverage
- Sortino ratio
- Business process reengineering
- Cost-benefit ratio
