Earnings Per Share (EPS): What It Means and How to Calculate It

This content has been reviewed and edited by an Investment Advisor Representative working for Global Predictions, an SEC-registered Investment Advisor.

If you've been exploring investments or diving into company financial reports, you've probably come across the term "Earnings Per Share" or EPS. EPS is a key measure that investors often use to understand a company's profitability on a per-share basis. In this guide, we'll break down what EPS is, why it matters, and how you can calculate it step-by-step. We'll also provide examples to help you better assess a company's performance, while always considering other factors before making investment decisions.

What is Earnings Per Share (EPS)?

Earnings Per Share (EPS) is a financial ratio that represents the portion of a company's profit compared to each outstanding share of common stock. In simpler terms, EPS shows how much money a company makes for each of its shares, making it a useful measure for understanding relative profitability. Investors may use EPS to assess whether a company is generating enough profits relative to the number of shares in the market.

EPS offers a snapshot of a company's financial health from an investor's perspective—typically, a higher EPS can indicate a more profitable company, but it should be reviewed alongside other metrics.

Why Does EPS Matter?

EPS matters for several reasons:

• Measure of Profitability: It provides insight into a company's profitability on a per-share basis. A rising EPS over time may suggest that the company is growing (though everything in context).
• Investment Comparison: EPS allows investors to compare profitability across different companies. For instance, if two companies have the same profits, the one with a higher EPS might be seen as more efficient.
• Valuation Tool: EPS can be used in other valuation metrics, such as the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio, which helps provide insights into whether a stock may be overvalued or undervalued.

How to Calculate EPS: Step-by-Step

Calculating EPS is straightforward once you break it down. Here’s the basic formula:

EPS = (Net Income - Preferred Dividends) / Average Outstanding Shares

Let’s break down each part:

• Net Income: This is the company’s total profit after all expenses, taxes, and costs have been deducted.
• Preferred Dividends: These are dividends paid to preferred shareholders. Since EPS focuses on common shareholders, preferred dividends are subtracted from net income.
• Average Outstanding Shares: This refers to the average number of (common) shares the company had outstanding during a given period.

Basic vs. Diluted EPS

You may also encounter the terms Basic EPS and Diluted EPS:

• Basic EPS: Calculated using the current number of outstanding shares.
• Diluted EPS: Accounts for potential shares that could be created through stock options, convertible bonds, or other securities. Diluted EPS provides a more conservative view by considering the possibility of more shares entering the market.

EPS in Action: Making Sense of the Numbers

Let’s take an example to illustrate how EPS is used to evaluate a company. Suppose you’re comparing two companies:

• Company A EPS: $2.50
• Company B EPS: $1.50

At first glance, Company A appears more profitable per share than Company B. However, EPS should not be used in isolation. It’s important to look at other factors like company growth, debt levels, and broader industry trends. A higher EPS may be encouraging, but it’s even better when viewed in the context of consistent growth or other positive financial indicators.

EPS Limitations and Other Important Metrics

While EPS is a valuable tool for evaluating a company’s profitability, it should be analyzed alongside other metrics to provide a more complete picture. For example, Return on Equity (ROE) shows how efficiently a company is generating profits with the shareholders' invested capital. Free Cash Flow is crucial for understanding how much actual cash the company is generating, regardless of accounting adjustments that might influence EPS. Other metrics like Profit Margin and Revenue Growth are also important in determining whether the company is on a sustainable growth trajectory.