RSL Electronics (TLV:RSEL) has had a great run on the share market with its stock up by a significant 10% over the last week. Given the company's impressive performance, we decided to study its financial indicators more closely as a company's financial health over the long-term usually dictates market outcomes. Specifically, we decided to study RSL Electronics' ROE in this article.
Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.
The formula for ROE is:
Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity
So, based on the above formula, the ROE for RSL Electronics is:
69% = ₪17m ÷ ₪24m (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2025).
The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. One way to conceptualize this is that for each ₪1 of shareholders' capital it has, the company made ₪0.69 in profit.
See our latest analysis for RSL Electronics
We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don’t share these attributes.
To begin with, RSL Electronics has a pretty high ROE which is interesting. Secondly, even when compared to the industry average of 17% the company's ROE is quite impressive. As a result, RSL Electronics' exceptional 59% net income growth seen over the past five years, doesn't come as a surprise.
We then compared RSL Electronics' net income growth with the industry and we're pleased to see that the company's growth figure is higher when compared with the industry which has a growth rate of 47% in the same 5-year period.
Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. If you're wondering about RSL Electronics''s valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.
The high three-year median payout ratio of 52% (implying that it keeps only 48% of profits) for RSL Electronics suggests that the company's growth wasn't really hampered despite it returning most of the earnings to its shareholders.
Additionally, RSL Electronics has paid dividends over a period of three years which means that the company is pretty serious about sharing its profits with shareholders.
Overall, we are quite pleased with RSL Electronics' performance. We are particularly impressed by the considerable earnings growth posted by the company, which was likely backed by its high ROE. While the company is paying out most of its earnings as dividends, it has been able to grow its earnings in spite of it, so that's probably a good sign. So far, we've only made a quick discussion around the company's earnings growth. To gain further insights into RSL Electronics' past profit growth, check out this visualization of past earnings, revenue and cash flows.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.