Which ratio is used to assess a company’s performance related to its net profit and investment cost?

Return on Investment (ROI) is a key metric used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of several different investments. It specifically measures the gain or loss generated relative to the amount of investment cost. This is calculated by taking the net profit from the investment, subtracting the original cost of the investment, and then dividing that figure by the cost of the investment. The resulting percentage provides insight into how well an investment is performing compared to what was initially spent.

For businesses, a high ROI indicates that the investment's profitability is strong relative to its cost, making it a crucial ratio for assessing performance. This makes ROI particularly valuable for comparing the return from different investments or projects within a company, helping stakeholders understand where to allocate resources effectively.

Other ratios, such as the quick ratio, price to earnings ratio, and debt to equity ratio, serve different purposes. The quick ratio focuses on liquidity and the ability to meet short-term obligations, the price to earnings ratio evaluates the valuation of a company's stock relative to its earnings, and the debt to equity ratio measures financial leverage and the balance between debt and equity financing. None of these directly assess the performance of a company in relation to net profit and investment cost like ROI does.