When entrepreneurs and investors want to evaluate the attractiveness of a business, they calculate and analyze various indicators that help them understand how efficiently the company operates . One of these is EBITDA.
In fact, EBITDA is the company’s profit, but an unusual one. In reports, it is neither revenue nor net profit of the enterprise. The indicator is used directly in the analysis of operational efficiency and in comparing different companies. When, for example, you need to find out whether the business is profitable without reference to some external factors and time frames.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at what EBITDA is. We will find out what this indicator is for, study the methods of calculating it, how it is related to other similar metrics, and many of its free advantages and disadvantages. In particular, we will consider various additional multipliers based on it.
What is EBITDA in simple terms
EBITDA is a key indicator for analysts, executives, financiers and c level contact list bankers. It allows you to evaluate *the operating efficiency of a company, most often for a year: to show executives how successfully the company is functioning, and to investors – how quickly investments can pay off.
EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization. Simply put, the number shows how much profit a company makes after deducting certain expenses:
- money that a company must pay, for example, for using a online course curator – who is it? loan or, conversely, receive from deposits – interest;
- income tax — Taxes;
- depreciation of fixed assets of a company – Deprecation;
- amortization of intangible assets — Amortization.
In general, for a company, EBITDA shows profit or profitability without taking into account external factors that are not directly related to operating activities.
Why is this indicator usually calculated?
EBITDA helps and can be a valuable tool for both internal users – managers and analysts, and external users – investors, banks.
External users can calculate EBITDA themselves. More information zn business directory can be obtained from the company’s financial statements. With its help, for example, investors can compare several companies and draw certain conclusions: is it worth issuing a loan or investing in development at this time.
Internal users evaluate the final financial state of their project, assets. In this way, managers understand whether the company can afford to invest more money in fixed assets, popular products, expand, improve work efficiency: purchase new equipment, buildings, workshops, etc.