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Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.

Economic Profit
Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)
Cash Operating Taxes
Invested Capital
Cost of Capital
Economic Spread Ratio
Economic Profit Margin

Edwards Lifesciences Corp., economic profit calculation

US$ in thousands

12 months ended:	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)¹	1,468,252)	768,464)	1,050,298)	704,251)	615,066)
Cost of capital²	18.34%	18.29%	18.28%	18.23%	17.87%
Invested capital³	3,791,600)	3,937,900)	3,697,400)	2,904,204)	2,855,739)

Economic profit⁴	772,806)	48,178)	374,476)	174,754)	104,664)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

¹ NOPAT. See details »

² Cost of capital. See details »

³ Invested capital. See details »

⁴ 2021 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= 1,468,252 – 18.34% × 3,791,600 = 772,806

The financial trajectory between 2017 and 2021 reflects a period of substantial growth in value creation, characterized by a significant surge in economic profit despite a temporary contraction in 2020.

Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT): A general upward trend is observed, with NOPAT increasing from 615,066 thousand US$ in 2017 to 1,468,252 thousand US$ in 2021. A notable decline occurred in 2020, where figures dropped to 768,464 thousand US$, before rebounding sharply in the subsequent year.
Cost of Capital: The cost of capital remained remarkably stable throughout the five-year period, exhibiting a slight and gradual increase from 17.87% in 2017 to 18.34% in 2021. This consistency suggests a stable risk profile and a steady cost of funding over the analyzed timeframe.
Invested Capital: Invested capital grew steadily from 2,855,739 thousand US$ in 2017 to a peak of 3,937,900 thousand US$ in 2020. A marginal reduction to 3,791,600 thousand US$ was recorded in 2021, indicating a shift toward higher capital productivity.
Economic Profit: Economic profit exhibited significant volatility but achieved overall growth, rising from 104,664 thousand US$ in 2017 to 772,806 thousand US$ in 2021. The sharp decline to 48,178 thousand US$ in 2020 highlights a period where the spread between NOPAT and the capital charge narrowed significantly, followed by an aggressive expansion in 2021.

The analysis indicates that the substantial increase in economic profit by the end of the period was driven by a powerful recovery in operating profitability combined with a stabilization and slight reduction in the capital base, resulting in significantly enhanced capital efficiency.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp., NOPAT calculation

US$ in thousands

12 months ended:	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Net income	1,503,100)	823,400)	1,046,900)	722,200)	583,600)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)¹	(44,000)	(52,200)	10,500)	(21,200)	27,100)
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts²	(300)	900)	(200)	400)	(500)
Increase (decrease) in equity equivalents³	(44,300)	(51,300)	10,300)	(20,800)	26,600)
Interest expense	18,400)	15,800)	20,700)	29,900)	23,200)
Interest expense, operating lease liability⁴	2,365)	2,697)	2,363)	2,809)	1,486)
Adjusted interest expense	20,765)	18,497)	23,063)	32,709)	24,686)
Tax benefit of interest expense⁵	(4,361)	(3,884)	(4,843)	(6,869)	(8,640)
Adjusted interest expense, after taxes⁶	16,404)	14,613)	18,220)	25,840)	16,046)
(Gain) loss on marketable securities	8,600)	300)	400)	2,900)	3,100)
Interest income	(17,400)	(23,400)	(32,200)	(32,000)	(20,300)
Investment income, before taxes	(8,800)	(23,100)	(31,800)	(29,100)	(17,200)
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income⁷	1,848)	4,851)	6,678)	6,111)	6,020)
Investment income, after taxes⁸	(6,952)	(18,249)	(25,122)	(22,989)	(11,180)
Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)	1,468,252)	768,464)	1,050,298)	704,251)	615,066)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

¹ Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »

² Addition of increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts.

³ Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income.

⁴ 2021 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= 94,600 × 2.50% = 2,365

⁵ 2021 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense = Adjusted interest expense × Statutory income tax rate
= 20,765 × 21.00% = 4,361

⁶ Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income.

⁷ 2021 Calculation
Tax expense (benefit) of investment income = Investment income, before tax × Statutory income tax rate
= 8,800 × 21.00% = 1,848

⁸ Elimination of after taxes investment income.

The financial data indicates variations and notable trends in profitability measures over the five-year period.

Net Income: Net income displayed an overall upward trend from 2017 through 2021. Starting at approximately 583.6 million US dollars in 2017, it increased to 722.2 million in 2018, followed by a significant rise to nearly 1.05 billion in 2019. Although there was a decline in 2020 to 823.4 million, the figure rebounded strongly in 2021, reaching a high of about 1.5 billion US dollars. This pattern suggests a robust profitability growth trajectory with a temporary setback in 2020.
Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT): NOPAT also showed a general upward pattern in line with net income, beginning at approximately 615.1 million US dollars in 2017 and increasing to 704.3 million in 2018. It then rose sharply to about 1.05 billion in 2019 before declining to 768.5 million in 2020. Similar to net income, NOPAT recovered in 2021, reaching approximately 1.47 billion US dollars. The fluctuations in NOPAT largely mirror those in net income, indicating consistent operational profitability trends adjusted for taxes.

In summary, both net income and NOPAT experienced significant growth over the period, with a noticeable dip in 2020 likely influenced by external factors affecting profitability that year. The strong recovery in 2021 highlights resilience and an improved operating performance post-2020.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp., cash operating taxes calculation

US$ in thousands

12 months ended:	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Income tax provision	198,900)	93,300)	119,600)	39,200)	451,300)
Less: Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(44,000)	(52,200)	10,500)	(21,200)	27,100)
Add: Tax savings from interest expense	4,361)	3,884)	4,843)	6,869)	8,640)
Less: Tax imposed on investment income	1,848)	4,851)	6,678)	6,111)	6,020)
Cash operating taxes	245,413)	144,533)	107,265)	61,158)	426,820)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

An analysis of the financial data over the five-year period reveals distinct trends in both income tax provision and cash operating taxes.

Income Tax Provision: The income tax provision shows significant fluctuation during the period. Initially, it starts at a relatively high value in 2017, then declines sharply in 2018. This is followed by an increase in 2019, a slight decrease in 2020, and a considerable rise again in 2021. Overall, the income tax provision does not establish a consistent upward or downward trend but rather exhibits volatility with a strong rebound in the final year observed.
Cash Operating Taxes: Cash operating taxes depict a generally increasing trend throughout the period. Starting from a moderate level in 2017, there is a considerable drop in 2018. Following this, a continuous rise is observed through 2019, 2020, and a significant increase in 2021. This pattern indicates growing cash tax outflows, especially pronounced in the latter years, suggesting either higher taxable income or changes in tax payment practices.
Comparative Observations: When comparing the two metrics, cash operating taxes remain consistently below income tax provisions in most years except for 2018 when cash operating taxes are notably higher. This divergence indicates potential differences in timing or recognition between the tax expense reported under accounting standards and the actual cash taxes paid. The growing gap in recent years could imply deferred tax liabilities or other tax-related timing differences.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp., invested capital calculation (financing approach)

US$ in thousands

	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Short-term debt	—)	—)	—)	—)	598,000)
Long-term debt	595,700)	595,000)	594,400)	593,800)	438,400)
Operating lease liability¹	94,600)	99,900)	84,400)	82,604)	67,539)
Total reported debt & leases	690,300)	694,900)	678,800)	676,404)	1,103,939)
Stockholders’ equity	5,835,900)	4,574,300)	4,148,300)	3,140,400)	2,956,200)
Net deferred tax (assets) liabilities²	(222,100)	(202,800)	(135,400)	(165,000)	(186,000)
Allowance for doubtful accounts³	9,300)	9,600)	8,700)	8,900)	8,500)
Equity equivalents⁴	(212,800)	(193,200)	(126,700)	(156,100)	(177,500)
Accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss, net of tax⁵	157,700)	161,100)	156,000)	138,500)	132,700)
Adjusted stockholders’ equity	5,780,800)	4,542,200)	4,177,600)	3,122,800)	2,911,400)
Construction in progress⁶	(333,800)	(313,300)	(265,000)	(168,800)	(88,200)
Marketable securities⁷	(2,345,700)	(985,900)	(894,000)	(726,200)	(1,071,400)
Invested capital	3,791,600)	3,937,900)	3,697,400)	2,904,204)	2,855,739)

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

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 equity equivalents to stockholders’ equity.

⁵ Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.

⁶ Subtraction of construction in progress.

⁷ Subtraction of marketable securities.

Total reported debt & leases: The total reported debt and leases demonstrate a significant decrease from 1,103,939 thousand US dollars in 2017 to 676,404 thousand US dollars in 2018. After this sharp reduction, the values remain relatively stable with slight fluctuations, recorded as 678,800 thousand in 2019, 694,900 thousand in 2020, and a minor decrease to 690,300 thousand in 2021. This indicates a strategic reduction in debt levels followed by maintenance of a consistent debt position over the subsequent years.
Stockholders’ equity: Stockholders' equity exhibits a consistent upward trend throughout the observed period. Beginning at 2,956,200 thousand US dollars in 2017, equity grows moderately to 3,140,400 thousand in 2018. Thereafter, a more pronounced increase is observed with figures reaching 4,148,300 thousand in 2019, 4,574,300 thousand in 2020, and a significant rise to 5,835,900 thousand in 2021. This steady increase suggests ongoing equity strengthening, potential reinvestment of earnings, or capital raising activities enhancing the financial base of the entity.
Invested capital: Invested capital shows an initial slight increase from 2,855,739 thousand US dollars in 2017 to 2,904,204 thousand in 2018, followed by a notable increase to 3,697,400 thousand in 2019 and further to 3,937,900 thousand in 2020. However, a decrease is evident in 2021, with invested capital reducing to 3,791,600 thousand. This pattern indicates growing investment in assets or operations until 2020, with a partial reduction or divestment in 2021, reflecting a possible shift in investment strategy or asset base optimization.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp., cost of capital calculations

Dec 31, 2021

	Capital (fair value)¹	Weights					Cost of capital
Equity²	67,138,137)	67,138,137)	÷	67,908,137)	=	0.99	0.99	×	18.52%	=	18.31%
Debt³	675,400)	675,400)	÷	67,908,137)	=	0.01	0.01	×	3.40% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.03%
Operating lease liability⁴	94,600)	94,600)	÷	67,908,137)	=	0.00	0.00	×	2.50% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.00%
Total:	67,908,137)					1.00					18.34%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).

¹ US$ in thousands

² Equity. See details »

³ Debt. See details »

⁴ Operating lease liability. See details »

Dec 31, 2020

	Capital (fair value)¹	Weights					Cost of capital
Equity²	54,739,079)	54,739,079)	÷	55,550,179)	=	0.99	0.99	×	18.52%	=	18.25%
Debt³	711,200)	711,200)	÷	55,550,179)	=	0.01	0.01	×	3.50% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.04%
Operating lease liability⁴	99,900)	99,900)	÷	55,550,179)	=	0.00	0.00	×	2.70% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.00%
Total:	55,550,179)					1.00					18.29%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31).

¹ US$ in thousands

² Equity. See details »

³ Debt. See details »

⁴ Operating lease liability. See details »

Dec 31, 2019

	Capital (fair value)¹	Weights					Cost of capital
Equity²	48,213,210)	48,213,210)	÷	48,965,210)	=	0.98	0.98	×	18.52%	=	18.24%
Debt³	667,600)	667,600)	÷	48,965,210)	=	0.01	0.01	×	3.40% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.04%
Operating lease liability⁴	84,400)	84,400)	÷	48,965,210)	=	0.00	0.00	×	2.80% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.00%
Total:	48,965,210)					1.00					18.28%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31).

¹ US$ in thousands

² Equity. See details »

³ Debt. See details »

⁴ Operating lease liability. See details »

Dec 31, 2018

	Capital (fair value)¹	Weights					Cost of capital
Equity²	36,936,698)	36,936,698)	÷	37,626,302)	=	0.98	0.98	×	18.52%	=	18.18%
Debt³	607,000)	607,000)	÷	37,626,302)	=	0.02	0.02	×	3.40% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.04%
Operating lease liability⁴	82,604)	82,604)	÷	37,626,302)	=	0.00	0.00	×	3.40% × (1 – 21.00%)	=	0.01%
Total:	37,626,302)					1.00					18.23%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31).

¹ US$ in thousands

² Equity. See details »

³ Debt. See details »

⁴ Operating lease liability. See details »

Dec 31, 2017

	Capital (fair value)¹	Weights					Cost of capital
Equity²	28,107,473)	28,107,473)	÷	29,217,712)	=	0.96	0.96	×	18.52%	=	17.82%
Debt³	1,042,700)	1,042,700)	÷	29,217,712)	=	0.04	0.04	×	2.20% × (1 – 35.00%)	=	0.05%
Operating lease liability⁴	67,539)	67,539)	÷	29,217,712)	=	0.00	0.00	×	2.20% × (1 – 35.00%)	=	0.00%
Total:	29,217,712)					1.00					17.87%

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

¹ US$ in thousands

² Equity. See details »

³ Debt. See details »

⁴ Operating lease liability. See details »

Edwards Lifesciences Corp., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks

	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Economic profit¹	772,806)	48,178)	374,476)	174,754)	104,664)
Invested capital²	3,791,600)	3,937,900)	3,697,400)	2,904,204)	2,855,739)
Performance Ratio
Economic spread ratio³	20.38%	1.22%	10.13%	6.02%	3.67%
Benchmarks
Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors⁴
Abbott Laboratories	-1.79%	—	—	—	—
Elevance Health Inc.	1.67%	—	—	—	—
Intuitive Surgical Inc.	12.29%	—	—	—	—
Medtronic PLC	-6.55%	—	—	—	—
UnitedHealth Group Inc.	4.16%	—	—	—	—

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

¹ Economic profit. See details »

² Invested capital. See details »

³ 2021 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × 772,806 ÷ 3,791,600 = 20.38%

⁴ Click competitor name to see calculations.

The analysis of economic value creation from 2017 to 2021 reveals a period of significant volatility in profitability relative to the capital employed. While the company maintained a general upward trajectory in its capital base through 2020, the efficiency of that capital in generating value above the cost of capital fluctuated substantially, reaching a peak in the final year of the period.

Economic Profit Performance: Economic profit exhibited a consistent increase from 2017 to 2019, rising from 104.66 million to 374.48 million. A sharp contraction occurred in 2020, where profit fell to 48.18 million. This downturn was followed by a substantial recovery in 2021, with economic profit reaching its highest point in the analyzed period at 772.81 million.
Invested Capital Trends: Invested capital showed a steady growth trend from 2017 through 2020, increasing from approximately 2.86 billion to 3.94 billion. A slight reduction was observed in 2021, with the capital base adjusting to 3.79 billion, suggesting a shift toward capital optimization following a period of expansion.
Economic Spread Ratio Analysis: The economic spread ratio mirrors the volatility of economic profit, reflecting the company's ability to generate returns in excess of its cost of capital. The ratio improved from 3.67% in 2017 to 10.13% in 2019. A significant decline to 1.22% in 2020 indicates a period of diminished capital efficiency. However, the ratio expanded aggressively to 20.38% in 2021, signaling a robust recovery in the company's capacity to create economic value.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks

	Dec 31, 2021	Dec 31, 2020	Dec 31, 2019	Dec 31, 2018	Dec 31, 2017
Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands)
Economic profit¹	772,806)	48,178)	374,476)	174,754)	104,664)
Net sales	5,232,500)	4,386,300)	4,348,000)	3,722,800)	3,435,300)
Performance Ratio
Economic profit margin²	14.77%	1.10%	8.61%	4.69%	3.05%
Benchmarks
Economic Profit Margin, Competitors³
Abbott Laboratories	-2.58%	—	—	—	—
Elevance Health Inc.	0.78%	—	—	—	—
Intuitive Surgical Inc.	9.67%	—	—	—	—
Medtronic PLC	-15.72%	—	—	—	—
UnitedHealth Group Inc.	2.04%	—	—	—	—

Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2020-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2019-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2018-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2017-12-31).

¹ Economic profit. See details »

² 2021 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Net sales
= 100 × 772,806 ÷ 5,232,500 = 14.77%

³ Click competitor name to see calculations.

The financial performance over the five-year period is characterized by a general upward trajectory in value creation, interrupted by a significant contraction in 2020. While net sales demonstrated consistent growth, increasing from 3.44 billion USD in 2017 to 5.23 billion USD in 2021, the generation of economic profit exhibited higher volatility.

Economic Profit Margin Volatility: The economic profit margin showed a steady climb from 3.05% in 2017 to a peak of 8.61% in 2019. This growth was abruptly reversed in 2020, with the margin falling to 1.10%, before rebounding sharply to a period high of 14.77% in 2021.
Analysis of the 2020 Contraction: A notable divergence occurred in 2020; although net sales remained stable and grew slightly to 4.39 billion USD, economic profit plummeted to 48.2 million USD. This indicates that the decline in value creation was not driven by a loss of revenue, but rather by factors affecting operating profitability or an increase in the cost of capital.
Value Creation Acceleration: The year 2021 represents the strongest performance in the analyzed period. Economic profit rose to 772.8 million USD, more than doubling the previous high of 2019. The resulting margin of 14.77% suggests a significant improvement in the organization's ability to generate returns exceeding its cost of capital relative to its sales volume.

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Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (NYSE:EW)

Economic Value Added (EVA)

Economic Profit

Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)

Cash Operating Taxes

Invested Capital

Cost of Capital

Economic Spread Ratio

Economic Profit Margin