Asset turnover ratio

Definition

The asset revenue ratio is a financial metric used to evaluate a company’s efficiency in generating revenue from its assets. It measures how effectively a company utilises its assets to generate sales or revenue. 

What is the asset revenue ratio?

This ratio is calculated using the following formula:

Asset revenue ratio = net sales or revenue / average total assets

It indicates how much revenue is generated for every dollar invested in assets.

The adequacy of the asset revenue ratio can vary significantly by industry. Different industries have different asset revenue norms, so it’s important to compare a company’s ratio to that of its peers.

A high ratio may suggest that the company is effectively using its assets to generate sales, which is generally viewed positively. However, an extremely high ratio might indicate underutilised assets. Conversely, a low ratio could indicate inefficient use of assets, which may be a concern for investors and creditors.

Investors look at this ratio to gauge the company’s operational efficiency and effectiveness in utilising its resources. It can impact stock prices and influence investment decisions.

While the asset revenue ratio is valuable, it’s important to consider industry-specific factors and other financial metrics for a comprehensive evaluation of a company’s operational efficiency.

Example of asset revenue ratio

1. Financial information:
   • ABC Retail has the following financial information for the year:
     • Net sales: R1,500,000
     • Beginning total assets: R800,000
     • Ending total assets: R1,200,000
2. Calculation of asset revenue ratio:
   • The asset revenue ratio is calculated as: ​
     Average total assets = (R800,000 = R1,200,000) / 2
     Asset revenue ratio = R1,500,000 / R1,200,000 = 1,5 

   The asset revenue ratio for ABC Retail is 1.5, indicating that, on average, the company generates R1.50 in sales for every R1 of assets.