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How-to guide

How to Calculate Return on Equity: Formula, Steps & Examples

Learn how to calculate Return on Equity — the formula explained step by step, with worked examples and a free calculator to check your answer.

By Priya Nair, MBA, Finance & Strategy · Updated Jun 2026 · 2 min read

Calculating your return on equity (roe) is straightforward once you know the Return on Equity formula and what each input means. This guide explains the method in plain language, walks through a manual calculation, and gives worked examples you can follow — then you can do it instantly with the Return on Equity Calculator.

What is Return on Equity?

The Return on Equity calculation tells you your return on equity (roe) from a few simple inputs. The figure you are solving for here is the return on equity (roe), expressed in percent.

The Return on Equity formula

The core formula is:

Return on equity (ROE) = Net income ÷ Shareholders' equity × 100

Here is what each input means:

  • Net income — a money amount. Example: ₹5,00,000.
  • Shareholders' equity — a money amount. Example: ₹25,00,000.

How to calculate it step by step

  • Write down the net income (for example, ₹5,00,000).
  • Write down the shareholders' equity (for example, ₹25,00,000).
  • Apply the formula above to get your return on equity (roe).
  • Double-check the result with the Return on Equity Calculator.

Worked examples

Example 1

Input / OutputValue
Net income₹5,00,000
Shareholders' equity₹25,00,000
Return on equity (ROE)20.00%

With net income of ₹5,00,000 and shareholders' equity of ₹25,00,000, the return on equity (roe) works out to 20.00%.

Example 2

With net income of ₹10,00,000 and shareholders' equity of ₹25,00,000, the return on equity (roe) works out to 40.00%.

ResultValue
Return on equity (ROE)40.00%

Example 3

With net income of ₹2,50,000 and shareholders' equity of ₹25,00,000, the return on equity (roe) works out to 10.00%.

ResultValue
Return on equity (ROE)10.00%

Tips for an accurate result

  • Keep your units consistent — mixing, say, months with years or grams with kilograms is the most common source of error.
  • Round only at the very end. Rounding inputs early can shift the final answer noticeably.
  • Re-run the numbers whenever an input changes, rather than estimating from an old result.

Prefer not to do the maths by hand? — the Return on Equity Calculator does it instantly, for free, with the formula and a worked example built in.

Continue exploring business calculators with these tools: Discount Calculator, Price Elasticity of Demand Calculator, Profit Margin Calculator, Gross Profit Calculator, ROI Calculator.

Calculators in this guide

Frequently asked questions

The formula is: Return on equity (ROE) = Net income ÷ Shareholders' equity × 100. With net income of ₹5,00,000 and shareholders' equity of ₹25,00,000, the return on equity (roe) works out to 20.00%.

Gather each input, apply the formula step by step keeping your units consistent, and round only at the end. You can verify your answer instantly with the Return on Equity Calculator.

It uses the standard formula with exact arithmetic, so the result is correct for the inputs you enter. Bear in mind that real-world outcomes can still differ when underlying assumptions change.

The return on equity (roe) is expressed in percent. Make sure your inputs use matching units so the result is correct.

Priya Nair · MBA, Finance & Strategy

Priya Nair is a business analyst and MBA who advises small businesses and startups on pricing, unit economics and growth metrics.