What does return on equity (ROE) measure?

Return on equity (ROE) specifically measures the profitability of a company in relation to the shareholders' equity. It indicates how effectively management is using a company's assets to create profits. This ratio is crucial for investors as it provides insight into how well their capital is being utilized to generate earnings, reflecting the financial health and performance of a business from the perspective of equity investors.

By calculating ROE, investors can assess how much profit a company generates with the equity they have provided, allowing them to compare the financial performance of different companies or evaluate the same company's performance over time. A higher ROE suggests a more efficient use of equity, which is generally viewed favorably by investors.

Other choices do not accurately reflect what ROE measures: the overall market value of a company relates to market capitalization and share price, total revenue concerns the sales generated without taking into account the expenses, and operational efficiency pertains to how well a company manages its operations, not directly tied to shareholders' equity.