Expense Ratio:

Definition:

Expense ratios indicate the relationship of various expenses to net sales.

The operating ratio reveals the average total variations in expenses. But some of the expenses may be increasing while some may be falling. Hence, expense ratios are calculated by dividing each item of expenses or group of expense with the net sales to analyze the cause of variation of the operating ratio.

The ratio can be calculated for individual items of expense or a group of items of a particular type of expense like cost of sales ratio, administrative expense ratio, selling expense ratio, materials consumed ratio, etc. The lower the operating ratio, the larger is the profitability and higher the operating ratio, lower is the profitability.

While interpreting expense ratio, it must be remembered that for a fixed expense like rent, the ratio will fall if the sales increase and for a variable expense, the ratio in proportion to sales shall remain nearly the same.

Formula of Expense Ratio:

Following formula is used for the calculation of expense ratio:

[Particular Expense = (Particular expense / Net sales) × 100 ]

Example:

Administrative expenses are $2,500, selling expenses are $3,200 and sales are $25,00,000.

Calculate expense ratio.

Calculation:

Administrative expenses ratio = (2,500 / 25,00,000) × 100

= 0.1%

Selling expense ratio = (3,200 / 25,00,000) × 100

= 0.128%

 

You may also be interested in other relevant articles: Horizontal Analysis or Trend Analysis Trend Percentage Vertical Analysis Limitations of Financial Statement Analysis Accounting Ratios definition, advantages, classifications and limitations Financial Ratio Formulas Profitability ratios: Gross profit ratio Net profit ratio Operating ratio Expense ratio Return on shareholders investment or net worth Return on equity capital Return on capital employed (ROCE) ratio Dividend yield ratio Dividend payout ratio Earnings Per Share Ratio Price earning ratio Liquidity ratios: Current ratio Liquid /Acid test / Quick ratio Activity ratios: Inventory/Stock turnover ratio Debtors/Receivables turnover ratio Average collection period Creditors/Payable turnover ratio Working capital turnover ratio Fixed assets turnover ratio Over and under trading Leverage ratios or long term solvency ratios: Debt equity ratio Proprietary or Equity ratio Ratio of fixed assets to shareholders funds Ratio of current assets to shareholders funds Interest coverage or debt service ratio Capital gearing ratio Over and under capitalization

 

Our Request Dear visitor! Do you like this article? If you like, then please bookmark this page and also share with your friends. Thank you for your support.  [Report Errors and Omissions]

Back to Home Page | Back to Financial Statement Analysis Page