Return on Investment (ROI)

A measure of profitability: the extra profit an investment generates, divided by what the investment cost.

ROI is the lead financial criterion in most business decisions. The numerator is additional profit, not revenue, and running revenue through the same fraction is a common and expensive error.

Return ON investment means profit over cost. If the top line is revenue, it is not ROI.

Taught in

See also

4.3.B.3