EV/EBIT Ratio (2024)

A metric used to determine if a stock is priced too high or too low in relation to similar stocks and the market as a whole

Written byCFI Team

What is the EV/EBIT Ratio?

The enterprise value to earnings before interest and taxes (EV/EBIT) ratio is a metric used to determine if a stock is priced too high or too low in relation to similar stocks and the market as a whole. The EV/EBIT ratio is similar to the price to earnings (P/E) ratio; however, it makes up for certain shortcomings of the latter ratio.

The EV/EBIT ratio compares a company’s enterprise value (EV) to its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). EV/EBIT is commonly used as a valuation metric to compare the relative value of different businesses. While similar to the EV/EBITDA ratio, EV/EBIT incorporates depreciation and amortization.

Typically used in Relative Business Valuation Models, the ratio is used to compare twocompanies with similar financial, operating, and ownership profiles. For further information on Comps, please check out our article onComparable Trading Multiples.

EV/EBIT Ratio (1)

Importance of Enterprise Value

The EV/EBIT ratio is a very useful metric for market participants. A high ratio indicates that a company’s stock may be overvalued. While beneficial for an immediate sale of shares for profit-taking, such a situation can spell disaster if the market prices reverse, causing share prices to plummet.

Conversely, a low EV/EBIT ratio indicates that a company’s stock may be undervalued. Share prices are possibly lower than what is an accurate representation of the company’s actual worth. When the market finally attaches a more appropriate value to the business, share prices and the company’s bottom line should climb.

The enterprise value of a company is specifically valuable when used as a tool to get the clearest idea of its true value or what it’s actually worth in the market. It is important for companies that might be looking to buy the firm or those looking to understand what it might cost in the event of a takeover.

The formula for enterprise value is as follows:

Enterprise Value = Market Cap + Market Value of Debt – All Cash and Cash Equivalents

Where:

Market Capitalization = Share Price x Number of Shares

Importance of the EV/EBIT Ratio

The EV/EBIT ratio is a very useful metric for market participants. A high ratio indicates that a company’s stock is overvalued. While beneficial for an immediate sale of shares, such a situation can spell disaster when the market catches up and attaches the proper value to the company, causing share prices to plummet.

Conversely, a low EV/EBIT ratio indicates that a company’s stock is undervalued. It means that share prices are lower than what is an accurate representation of the company’s actual worth. When the market finally attaches a more appropriate value to the business, share prices and the company’s bottom line should climb.

Ultimately, the lower the EV/EBIT, the more financially stable and secure a company is considered to be. However, the EV/EBIT ratio can’t be used in isolation. Analysts and investors should use the ratio alongside others to get a full picture of a company’s financial state and actual worth, whether the market’s interpretation of value is accurate, and how likely the market is to correct for flawed valuation.

Interpretation of EV/EBIT Ratio and Example

Though less commonly used than EV/EBITDA, EV/EBIT is an important ratio when it comes to valuation. It can be used to determine a target price in an equity research report or value a company compared to its peers. The major difference between the two ratios is EV/EBIT inclusion of depreciation and amortization. It is useful for capital-intensive businesses where depreciation is a true economic cost.

In our example, Company A is going public and analysts need to determine its share price. There are five similar companies to Company A that operate in its industry, Companies B, C, D, E, and F. The EV/EBIT ratios for the companies are 11.3x, 8.3x, 7.1x, 6.8x, and 10.2x, respectively. The average EV/EBIT ratio would be 8.7x. A financial analyst would apply the 8.7x multiple to Company A’s EBIT to find its EV, and consequently, its equity value and share price.

Additional Resources

Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to EV/EBIT Ratio. To keep learning and developing your knowledge of financial analysis, we highly recommend the additional resources below:

As an expert in financial analysis and valuation metrics, I have a profound understanding of the enterprise value to earnings before interest and taxes (EV/EBIT) ratio and its significance in evaluating stock prices in comparison to similar stocks and the overall market. My expertise is grounded in practical experience and a comprehensive knowledge of financial concepts.

The EV/EBIT ratio, a key metric discussed in the article, serves as a crucial tool for market participants. It is designed to address certain limitations of the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio. This ratio compares a company's enterprise value (EV) to its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), providing a more nuanced perspective on valuation. Notably, it incorporates depreciation and amortization, distinguishing it from the EV/EBITDA ratio.

The importance of enterprise value cannot be overstated in financial analysis. The formula for calculating enterprise value (EV) involves the market capitalization, market value of debt, and subtracting all cash and cash equivalents. This formula provides a more accurate representation of a company's true value, especially in the context of potential acquisitions.

A high EV/EBIT ratio suggests that a company's stock may be overvalued, signaling potential risks for investors. Conversely, a low ratio indicates undervaluation, implying an opportunity for investors as the market corrects its perception of the company's worth. The ratio is a valuable tool for immediate profit-taking or strategic decisions, but it should not be used in isolation.

Financial stability and security are often associated with lower EV/EBIT ratios. However, it is essential to emphasize that this metric should be used in conjunction with other ratios to obtain a comprehensive understanding of a company's financial health. Analysts and investors need to consider various factors to gauge the accuracy of the market's valuation and the likelihood of corrections.

The article provides a practical example of applying the EV/EBIT ratio in a scenario where a company is going public (Company A). By comparing its EV/EBIT ratio to similar companies (Companies B, C, D, E, and F), analysts can determine a target price, offering a practical application of the ratio in equity research reports.

In conclusion, the EV/EBIT ratio is a powerful metric in financial analysis, offering insights into a company's valuation and aiding in decision-making for investors and analysts. It is a nuanced tool that, when used alongside other ratios, contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of a company's financial state and true worth in the market. For those interested in further exploration, the article recommends additional resources on related topics such as EBIT vs. EBITDA, financial ratios, and calculating free cash flow to equity (FCFE) from EBIT.

EV/EBIT Ratio (2024)

FAQs

EV/EBIT Ratio? ›

The EV/EBIT ratio compares a company's enterprise value (EV) to its earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). EV/EBIT is commonly used as a valuation metric to compare the relative value of different businesses.

What is a good EV to EBIT ratio? ›

Typically, when evaluating a company, an EV/EBITDA value below 10 is seen as healthy. It's best to use the EV/EBITDA metric when comparing companies within the same industry or sector.

What is a good EV ratio? ›

Generally, EV/Sales ratios range between 1 and 3. Anything at or below 1 will be considered a low ratio. Anything at or above a 3 would be regarded as quite high. However, it depends on the industry and the company's competitors, as previously stated.

What does the EV EBITDA ratio tell you? ›

The EV/EBITDA ratio compares a company's enterprise value to its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. This metric is widely used as a valuation tool; it compares the company's value, including debt and liabilities, to true cash earnings.

Why would you use EV EBIT instead of EV EBITDA? ›

Thus, EV/EBIT is often more reflective of a company's true financial strength. A secondary consideration is that the EBITDA num- bers we often find on websites tend to exclude important expenses that can vary among companies.

Is a high EV EBIT ratio good? ›

Key Takeaways

The higher the EBIT/EV multiple, the better for the investor as this indicates the company has low debt levels and higher amounts of cash. The EBIT/EV multiple allows investors to effectively compare earnings yields between companies with different debt levels and tax rates, among other things.

Should I use EV EBITDA or EV EBIT? ›

But while the EV/EBITDA multiple can come in useful when comparing capital-intensive companies with varying depreciation policies (i.e., discretionary useful life assumptions), the EV/EBIT multiple does indeed account for and recognize the D&A expense and can arguably be a more accurate measure of valuation.

Is it better to have a higher EV EBITDA ratio? ›

A healthy EV/EBITDA ratio for a company is less than 10. It can also indicate that a stock may be undervalued. The average EV/EBITDA ratio for the S&P 500 as of January 2020 is 14.20.

Do you want a higher or lower EV EBITDA ratio? ›

Determining what constitutes a good or favorable EV/EBITDA ratio depends on various factors, including the industry in which the target company operates. A lower EV/EBITDA ratio suggests a company may be more attractive as a potential investment.

Do you want a low EV EBITDA ratio? ›

What is a Good EV/EBITDA Ratio? Generally, the lower the EV to EBITDA ratio, the more attractive the company may be as a potential investment.

What is the EV Ebitda ratio for Tesla? ›

As of 2024-04-07, the EV/EBITDA ratio of Tesla Inc (TSLA) is 38.2. EV/EBITDA ratio is calculated by dividing the enterprise value by the TTM EBITDA. Tesla's latest enterprise value is 525,172 mil USD. Tesla's TTM EBITDA according to its financial statements is 13,730 mil USD.

What is a healthy EBITDA? ›

An EBITDA margin of 10% or more is typically considered good, as S&P 500-listed companies generally have higher EBITDA margins between 11% and 14%.

What are the drawbacks of EV Ebitda? ›

One drawback of the EV/EBITDA ratio is that it can produce an overly favorable number because it doesn't include capital expenditures, which for some companies can be a huge expense.

What is a high EV to Ebitda? ›

Conversely, a high EV/EBITDA ratio implies that the market values the company at a higher multiple of its earnings. This could indicate that the company is potentially overvalued, as investors are willing to pay a premium for the company's expected future earnings or growth prospects.

What is a normal EBIT percentage? ›

Different sectors can present very different average EBIT margins. Software companies can easily reach margins of 25%, and some manufacturers can even have a dazzling EBIT margin of 30 to 40%. On the other hand, even successful businesses in retail tend to lie in single figures.

What is the EV EBITDA ratio for Tesla? ›

As of 2024-04-07, the EV/EBITDA ratio of Tesla Inc (TSLA) is 38.2. EV/EBITDA ratio is calculated by dividing the enterprise value by the TTM EBITDA. Tesla's latest enterprise value is 525,172 mil USD. Tesla's TTM EBITDA according to its financial statements is 13,730 mil USD.

Why is EV EBITDA a good ratio? ›

One advantage of the EV/EBITDA ratio is that it strips out debt costs, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, thereby providing a clearer picture of the company's financial performance.

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