Economic Value Added (EVA)
EVA is registered trademark of Stern Stewart.
Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.
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Amazon.com Inc. pages available for free this week:
- Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
- Cash Flow Statement
- Analysis of Solvency Ratios
- Analysis of Long-term (Investment) Activity Ratios
- Dividend Discount Model (DDM)
- Present Value of Free Cash Flow to Equity (FCFE)
- Selected Financial Data since 2005
- Net Profit Margin since 2005
- Return on Equity (ROE) since 2005
- Price to Earnings (P/E) since 2005
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Economic Profit
Amazon.com Inc., economic profit calculation
US$ in millions
| 12 months ended: | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1 | ||||||
| Cost of capital2 | ||||||
| Invested capital3 | ||||||
| Economic profit4 | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 NOPAT. See details »
2 Cost of capital. See details »
3 Invested capital. See details »
4 2024 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= – × =
- Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
- The NOPAT values show significant fluctuation over the five-year period. Starting at $24,183 million in 2020, there was a marked increase to $37,525 million in 2021. However, in 2022, the company experienced a substantial decline, reflected by a negative NOPAT of -$5,619 million. This loss reversed in the following years, with NOPAT increasing to $31,856 million in 2023 and reaching a peak of $58,988 million in 2024. This pattern suggests volatility in operational profitability but a strong recovery and growth in the most recent period.
- Cost of Capital
- The cost of capital exhibits slight variation but remains relatively stable, fluctuating between 14.76% and 15.71%. The lowest point occurred in 2022 at 14.76%, coinciding with the year of operational losses. Following this, the cost of capital increased gradually to 15.71% by the end of 2024. The stability in cost of capital implies consistent financing conditions despite operational challenges.
- Invested Capital
- Invested capital increased steadily each year, from $150,160 million in 2020 to $375,421 million in 2024. This represents a significant expansion in the company's asset base or capital deployment over the five years. The continuous growth in invested capital indicates ongoing investments and possibly expansion initiatives, despite the year with negative profit.
- Economic Profit
- Economic profit, which adjusts for the cost of capital, shows a highly unstable trend. It started positively at $749 million in 2020, increased sharply to $6,416 million in 2021, then plunged to a large negative figure of -$45,377 million in 2022. The negative economic profit persisted in 2023 at -$18,459 million, indicating that the company did not generate returns above its cost of capital during these years. By 2024, economic profit almost neutralized, reaching $1 million, indicating a near breakeven in value creation from a capital cost perspective.
- Summary
- The data reveal a period of rapid growth in net operating profit and invested capital, interrupted by a severe downturn in 2022. This downturn, reflected in both negative NOPAT and economic profit, suggests challenges in operational efficiency or external factors impacting profitability. Despite this setback, the company showed resilience, improving operational profits substantially in the subsequent years while gradually increasing its invested capital. Economic profit trends indicate difficulties in creating value above the cost of capital in the years of loss but a return to near breakeven by the most recent year. The consistent cost of capital suggests stable financial market conditions throughout the period. Overall, while growth and recovery are evident, the company faced a notable period of underperformance before regaining profitability.
Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)
Amazon.com Inc., NOPAT calculation
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »
2 Addition of increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts.
3 Addition of increase (decrease) in unearned revenue.
4 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income (loss).
5 2024 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =
6 2024 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense = Adjusted interest expense × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
7 Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income (loss).
8 2024 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
9 Elimination of after taxes investment income.
- Net Income (Loss)
- The net income fluctuated significantly over the five-year period. Beginning at $21,331 million in 2020, there was a substantial increase to $33,364 million in 2021. However, 2022 marked a notable downturn with a net loss of $2,722 million. This negative performance rebounded sharply in the subsequent years, reaching $30,425 million in 2023 and further rising to $59,248 million in 2024. The data indicates a strong recovery and growth trajectory after the loss experienced in 2022.
- Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
- NOPAT followed a similar pattern to net income, starting at $24,183 million in 2020 and rising to $37,525 million in 2021. It then experienced a sharp decline to a negative $5,619 million in 2022, deeper than the net income loss in the same year, indicating challenges in operating profitability. However, a significant recovery occurred in 2023 with NOPAT increasing to $31,856 million, followed by a strong increase to $58,988 million in 2024. This suggests an improvement in the company's core operational efficiency and profitability in the last two years.
- Overall Analysis
- The financial results reveal volatility, with a peak in 2021, a pronounced downturn in 2022, and substantial recovery and growth by 2024. The presence of negative figures in 2022 for both net income and NOPAT indicates operational and profitability challenges during that year. The subsequent rebound in 2023 and 2024 demonstrates strong adaptive or strategic measures resulting in enhanced earnings and operating profit, achieving new highs at the end of the evaluated period.
Cash Operating Taxes
Amazon.com Inc., cash operating taxes calculation
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
- Provision (benefit) for income taxes, net
- The net provision for income taxes showed considerable volatility over the observed periods. In 2020 and 2021, the provision increased significantly from 2,863 million USD to 4,791 million USD. However, the year 2022 presented an unusual pattern with a net tax benefit of -3,217 million USD, indicating a reversal or tax benefit situation rather than a conventional tax expense. Subsequently, the provision rose again sharply to 7,120 million USD in 2023 and further to 9,265 million USD in 2024, reflecting a substantial increase in tax obligations or adjustments during these years.
- Cash operating taxes
- Cash operating taxes exhibited a steadily increasing trend from 3,844 million USD in 2020 to 5,646 million USD in 2021, followed by a more moderate rise to 5,689 million USD in 2022. In 2023, there was a notable surge to 13,583 million USD, nearly doubling the previous year's amount. This upward momentum continued in 2024 with cash operating taxes reaching 14,023 million USD. The substantial increase observed in the last two years suggests significant growth in actual tax payments, potentially correlated with rising taxable income or changes in tax rates and regulations.
Invested Capital
Amazon.com Inc., invested capital calculation (financing approach)
US$ in millions
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.
2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »
3 Addition of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable.
4 Addition of unearned revenue.
5 Addition of equity equivalents to stockholders’ equity.
6 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.
7 Subtraction of construction in progress.
8 Subtraction of marketable securities.
- Total reported debt & leases
-
Over the five-year period, total reported debt and leases exhibited an overall increasing trend from 100,504 million US dollars in 2020 to a peak of 154,972 million in 2022. This increase suggests a significant rise in the company's leverage or obligations during these years. However, this peak level of debt was relatively maintained in 2023, with a slight decrease to 154,556 million, followed by a further moderate reduction to 147,838 million in 2024. The slight decline in the last two years might indicate strategic deleveraging or improved debt management efforts.
- Stockholders’ equity
-
Stockholders' equity demonstrated strong and consistent growth throughout the period under review. Starting at 93,404 million US dollars in 2020, equity levels increased markedly year over year, reaching 138,245 million in 2021 and continuing upward to 146,043 million in 2022. This growth accelerated significantly during 2023 and 2024, culminating in a sizable equity base of 285,970 million by the end of 2024. The substantial rise in equity in the final years suggests enhanced retained earnings, possible equity issuances, or asset revaluations, which strengthen the company's net asset position and financial stability.
- Invested capital
-
Invested capital showed a continuous and pronounced increase across the five years. Beginning at 150,160 million US dollars in 2020, it increased substantially to 202,836 million in 2021, then accelerated its upward trajectory to 269,358 million in 2022. The growth sustained momentum through 2023 and 2024, reaching 326,668 million and 375,421 million respectively. This pattern indicates significant expansion in the company's total capital employed in operations, possibly due to investments in long-term assets, acquisitions, or business growth initiatives.
Cost of Capital
Amazon.com Inc., cost of capital calculations
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance leases3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance leases. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance leases3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance leases. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance leases3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance leases. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance leases3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance leases. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance leases3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 US$ in millions
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance leases. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
Economic Spread Ratio
Amazon.com Inc., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Invested capital2 | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic spread ratio3 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4 | ||||||
| Home Depot Inc. | ||||||
| Lowe’s Cos. Inc. | ||||||
| TJX Cos. Inc. | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 Invested capital. See details »
3 2024 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =
4 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Economic Profit
- The economic profit exhibited significant volatility over the observed periods. Initially, it showed a moderate positive value of 749 million USD, rising substantially to 6,416 million USD. However, the trend reversed sharply thereafter, with economic profit turning negative, reaching -45,377 million USD and then improving to -18,459 million USD before nearly breaking even at 1 million USD. This suggests difficulties in generating returns above the cost of capital in recent years, though there is a notable recovery in the latest period.
- Invested Capital
- The invested capital demonstrated a consistent upward trajectory throughout the periods. Starting from 150,160 million USD, it increased steadily each year, reaching 375,421 million USD by the latest period. This growth indicates ongoing investment and expansion in the company’s asset base or operations.
- Economic Spread Ratio
- The economic spread ratio, representing the difference between return on invested capital and cost of capital as a percentage, also followed a fluctuating trend. Beginning at a modest 0.5%, it improved significantly to 3.16%. Subsequently, it declined sharply to negative values, with -16.85% and -5.65% recorded in consecutive years, before stabilizing at 0% in the most recent period. This pattern aligns with the economic profit figures and suggests periods where the company did not generate sufficient returns to cover its cost of capital, followed by a stabilization indicating a break-even position.
- Summary
- Overall, the financial data reveals a strong increase in invested capital paralleled by a deterioration in economic profit and economic spread ratio after an initial period of positive performance. The negative economic profit and spread in multiple years point to challenges in achieving returns above the cost of capital despite ongoing capital investments. Recent data indicates a turnaround or stabilization, with economic profit approximating zero and the spread ratio neutral, suggesting the potential beginning of improved financial efficiency or profitability.
Economic Profit Margin
Amazon.com Inc., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | Dec 31, 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in millions) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Net sales | ||||||
| Add: Increase (decrease) in unearned revenue | ||||||
| Adjusted net sales | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic profit margin2 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3 | ||||||
| Home Depot Inc. | ||||||
| Lowe’s Cos. Inc. | ||||||
| TJX Cos. Inc. | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 2024 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Adjusted net sales
= 100 × ÷ =
3 Click competitor name to see calculations.
- Adjusted Net Sales
- The adjusted net sales have demonstrated consistent growth over the five-year period. Starting at approximately $387.5 billion at the end of 2020, the sales increased steadily each year, reaching about $641.6 billion by the end of 2024. This indicates a robust upward trend in revenue generation, with year-on-year increases reflecting strong operational performance and market expansion.
- Economic Profit
- The economic profit figures exhibit significant variability. Initially, there was a positive but moderate economic profit of $749 million in 2020, which surged to a peak of $6.416 billion in 2021. Subsequently, the company experienced sharply negative economic profits in 2022 and 2023, with losses of $45.377 billion and $18.459 billion respectively. By 2024, the economic profit nearly returned to break-even at $1 million. This volatility suggests considerable fluctuations in profitability beyond accounting profit, possibly due to changes in capital costs, operational expenses, or extraordinary items impacting economic returns.
- Economic Profit Margin
- The economic profit margin, which indicates economic profit relative to sales, correlates closely with the economic profit trend. It increased from a marginal 0.19% in 2020 to 1.36% in 2021, signifying improved efficiency or returns for that year. However, the margin then deteriorated sharply to -8.79% in 2022 and improved slightly to -3.18% in 2023, before stabilizing near zero in 2024. The negative margins during these years highlight periods where economic losses were sustained despite growing sales, reflecting challenges in generating value exceeding capital costs.
- Overall Insights
- The data reveals a solid increase in sales revenue, indicative of market growth and potentially expanded business operations. Nevertheless, the significant swings in economic profit and its margin suggest ongoing challenges in converting revenue growth into consistent economic value. The recovery toward break-even economic profit in the latest year may signal early stages of financial stabilization or improved capital efficiency. Continued monitoring of cost structures and capital allocation will be essential to sustain positive economic value creation in the future.