Understanding 3-Step DuPont Formula (2026)
DuPont Analysis isolates whether a business creates high returns via high pricing margins, operational volume turnover, or heavy debt.
| DuPont Component | Formula | Business Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Net Profit Margin | Net Income / Revenue | Pricing power & operational cost efficiency |
| Asset Turnover Ratio | Revenue / Total Assets | Volume velocity & asset utilization efficiency |
| Financial Leverage | Total Assets / Equity | Debt capitalization ratio |
3-Step DuPont ROE Decomposition Formula
- Net Profit Margin (Profitability): Net Income / Revenue. Measures pricing power and operational cost control.
- Asset Turnover (Efficiency): Revenue / Total Assets. Measures how fast assets generate top-line sales volume.
- Financial Leverage (Debt Multiplier): Total Assets / Equity. Measures debt reliance in capital structure.
Spotting Quality ROE vs Debt-Inflated Value Traps
- Quality High ROE: Driven by high profit margins (>15%) and fast asset turnover (>1.5x) with low financial leverage (<1.5x).
- Risky Debt ROE: High ROE driven purely by sky-high financial leverage (>3.5x) with thin margins (<5%). High bankruptcy risk!
DuPont Stock Screening Tip
Retail FMCG companies achieve high ROE via fast Asset Turnover, while software firms achieve high ROE via steep Profit Margins. Know your sector's DuPont driver!