As a business owner or investor, you may have heard the term “retained earnings” thrown around. But what exactly are retained earnings, and why are they important for your business? In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at retained earnings, their definition, and how they can benefit your business.
Defining Retained Earnings
Retained earnings are an important aspect of a company’s financial strategy. When a business generates profit, it has several options for what to do with that money. One option is to distribute the profit to shareholders in the form of dividends, which can provide immediate value to investors. Another option is to retain the profit and reinvest it back into the business. This is where retained earnings come into play.
Retained earnings are defined as the portion of a company’s profits that are not distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends but instead are kept within the company for reinvestment in the business. Essentially, retained earnings represent the cumulative earnings that a business has retained over time, rather than paid out to shareholders.
By retaining earnings and reinvesting them back into the business, a company can fund growth and expansion initiatives, such as investing in new capital expenditures, or paying off debt obligations. Retained earnings can also be used to fund research and development initiatives, which can help companies remain competitive and innovative in their industry. We’ll delve into the benefits of earnings retained later.
Understanding Earnings: Retained Earnings vs Dividends
Retained earnings and dividends are both important aspects of a company’s financial health, but they serve different purposes and have different impacts on the company and its shareholders.
Retained earnings are the portion of a company’s profits that are not distributed as dividends to shareholders but instead are kept by the company for reinvestment back into the business. Retained earnings are essentially funds that the company can use for a variety of purposes, such as funding new capital expenditures, paying off debt obligations, or investing in research and development initiatives.
Dividends, on the other hand, are payments made by a company to its shareholders as a way to distribute a portion of its profits. Dividends can be paid out in the form of cash or additional shares of stock, and are typically distributed on a regular basis, such as quarterly or annually. Dividends are a way for companies to reward investors and provide a source of income.
The key difference between retained earnings and dividends is that retained earnings are kept by the company for future use, while dividends are paid out to shareholders as a way to distribute profits.
Understanding Earnings: Retained Earnings vs Revenue
Revenue is the total amount of money that a company earns from its operations, typically over a specified period of time, such as a quarter or a year. Revenue is a measure of the company’s sales performance and is a key indicator of how well the company is generating income.
Retained earnings and revenue differences are simple: revenue is a measure of the company’s sales performance and income generation, while retained earnings are the portion of profits that are not distributed as dividends and are kept by the company for future use. Revenue is an important metric for assessing the company’s sales performance, while retained earnings are important for evaluating the company’s potential for growth and expansion.
Check out our article on net profit vs revenue.
Retained Earnings Made Simple: How to Calculate Retained Earnings
Retained earnings are calculated by subtracting dividends paid to shareholders from a company’s net income for a given period. The formula for calculating retained earnings is as follows:
Retained Earnings = Beginning Retained Earnings + Net Income – Dividends Paid
The “Beginning Retained Earnings” represents the balance of retained earnings at the start of the reporting period. “Net Income” represents the company’s total earnings for the period, which is calculated by subtracting total expenses from total revenue. “Dividends Paid” represents the amount of dividends distributed to shareholders during the reporting period.
For example, let’s say a company had beginning retained earnings of $50,000, net income of $100,000, and paid $20,000 in dividends during the reporting period. The calculation for retained earnings would be as follows:
Retained Earnings = $50,000 + $100,000 – $20,000 Retained Earnings = $130,000
Therefore, the company’s retained earnings for the reporting period would be $130,000.
It’s important to reinforce that retained earnings are cumulative. As a result, the beginning retained earnings balance for one reporting period becomes the ending retained earnings balance for the next reporting period.
Earnings Account & Balance Sheet: Where Can You Find Retained Earnings in Your Financial Statements?
Retained earnings can be found on a company’s balance sheet under the shareholder’s equity section. It is typically listed as a line item called “retained earnings” or “earnings retained”.
The beginning balance of retained earnings for a period can be found on the previous period’s balance sheet. The ending balance of retained earnings for the current period can be found on the current period’s balance sheet.
It’s crucial that changes in retained earnings are also reflected in a company’s statement of retained earnings, which shows the beginning balance of retained earnings, net income or loss, dividends paid, and the ending balance of retained earnings for the period.
If you are having difficulty locating retained earnings on your financial statements, it may be helpful to consult with an advisor or analyst – a financial professional or accountant who can provide guidance and assistance.
Want to have flawless financial reporting? Check out what Synder Sync offers out of the box to automatically create accurate P&L and balance sheet reports with various filters. Test the reporting feature during our 15-day free trial, or book a seat at our free webinar to see the tool in action and ask questions. Automate your reporting to focus on growing your business!
Earnings Ratio: What is a good retained earnings?
It’s difficult to define what constitutes a “good” level of retained earnings, as it can vary depending on a number of factors such as the industry, the size of the company, and the company’s growth and expansion plans.
A 100% ratio of retained earnings to total assets is the perfect goal, but it is difficult for most businesses to achieve. Hence, a more feasible target is to have a ratio that is as close to 100% as possible and higher than the industry average, while also showing improvement over time.
Generally speaking, a healthy level of retained earnings is one that allows a company to fund its growth and expansion initiatives while maintaining financial stability. Companies that have a high level of retained earnings may have the ability to invest in new capital expenditures, pay off debt obligations, or pursue research and development initiatives, which can help the company remain competitive and innovative in their industry.
On the other hand, companies that do not have enough retained earnings may need to rely on external sources of financing such as loans or equity financing, which can come with additional costs and risks.
It’s important to note that retained earnings are just one aspect of a company’s financial health, and should be evaluated in conjunction with other financial metrics such as revenue growth, profitability, and debt levels.
What Can Retained Earnings Tell You?
Retained earnings can provide valuable insights into a company’s financial health and performance. Let’s take a closer look at some key things that retained earnings can tell you:
Reinvestment potential
Retained earnings can be an indication of a company’s potential for reinvestment. If a company has strong retained earnings, it may have the financial capacity to fund growth and expansion initiatives, which can help to increase its competitiveness and profitability over the long-term.
Dividend potential
Reinvestment potential isn’t the only benefit here. Retained earnings can also signal a company’s potential for future dividend payouts. If a company has high retained earnings, it may be more likely to pay dividends to shareholders in the future, providing a source of income for investors.
Financial stability
Retained earnings can also be an indication of a company’s financial stability. Companies with high retained earnings have a buffer of capital that can be used to fund operations and weather financial challenges, such as economic downturns or unexpected expenses. Basically, retained earnings can help a company weather difficult economic times. During periods of economic recession or market volatility, companies may need to reduce or suspend dividend payouts to shareholders. In these cases, strong retained earnings can be used to fund operations and maintain financial stability, without the need to rely on external financing.
Performance trends
Changes in retained earnings from period to period can be an indication of a company’s financial performance trends. If retained earnings are consistently increasing over time, it can be a positive sign that the company is growing and expanding, while decreasing retained earnings can indicate financial challenges or issues.
Investment potential
Retained earnings can also be a factor that investors consider when evaluating a company’s investment potential. A business with strong retained earnings may be seen as a financially stable and attractive investment opportunity.
Debts repayment potential
Retained earnings can be used to pay down debt, which can be an important factor for companies that have high levels of debt. By using retained earnings to pay off debt, companies can reduce their interest payments and improve their overall financial health.
Mergers and acquisitions potential
Last but not least, retained earnings can also be an important factor in mergers and acquisitions. When a business is acquired, the acquiring company will often review the target company’s retained earnings to assess its financial strength and potential for future growth. Strong retained earnings can make a company more attractive to potential acquirers, and can potentially lead to higher acquisition premiums.
It’s important to note that while retained earnings can provide valuable insights into a company’s financial health and performance, they should not be viewed in isolation. Other financial metrics, such as revenue growth, profitability, and debt levels, should also be evaluated to gain a comprehensive understanding of a company’s financial position. Additionally, the ideal level of retained earnings can vary depending on the industry and the company’s growth and expansion plans, and should be evaluated in the context of these factors.
What Are the Limitations of Retained Earnings?
While retained earnings can be a valuable metric for evaluating a company’s financial health and potential for growth, there are some limitations to using this measure:
- Retained earnings are limited to past performance. Retained earnings reflect a company’s profits from past years, but they do not necessarily provide insight into the company’s future growth potential. Factors such as changes in the market, new competitors, or shifts in consumer behavior can all impact a company’s growth potential, and may not be reflected in retained earnings.
- Retained earnings don’t consider external factors. While retained earnings are an internal metric that reflect a company’s financial position, they do not necessarily consider external factors that may impact the company’s performance, such as changes in the economy, government policies, or technological advancements.
- Retained earnings are limited to certain types of companies. It’s noted that retained earnings may be less relevant for certain types of companies, such as startups or companies in industries with high capital requirements. These companies may need to reinvest all or most of their profits back into the business in order to fund growth and expansion, leaving little or no retained earnings.
- Retained earnings can be influenced by accounting practices. The amount of retained earnings may be influenced by accounting practices, such as the timing of revenue recognition or the treatment of certain expenses. As a result, retained earnings may not always provide an accurate reflection of a company’s financial health.
- Retained earnings may not be comparable across companies. Lastly, retained earnings can vary widely across companies, depending on factors such as the company’s age, size, and growth potential. As a result, comparing retained earnings across companies may not always be a meaningful comparison.
Earnings in Real Life: Examples of Retained Earnings in Action
There are many examples of businesses that have used their retained earnings effectively to fuel growth and innovation. One notable example is Amazon, which has reinvested its retained earnings into expanding its product offerings, distribution network, and technology infrastructure. This has contributed to the company’s market dominance and success over the years.
Another example is Apple, which has one of the largest retained earnings balances of any company. Apple has used its retained earnings to fund research and development of new products and technologies, allowing the company to remain competitive and innovative in the tech industry.
Retained Earnings: Conclusion
In conclusion, retained earnings are a critical component of a company’s financial health and can provide significant benefits to businesses of all sizes. By retaining earnings and reinvesting them back into the business, companies can fund growth and expansion initiatives, pay off debt obligations, and remain competitive in their industry. As a business owner or investor, it’s important to understand the role of retained earnings in your financial strategy and how they can benefit your bottom line in the long run.
