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Profitability & returns

EBITDA Margin

Operating cash profitability as a percent of revenue, before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

Part of the Profitability & Quality course · Lesson 4 of 19
Formula
EBITDA / Revenue

What it is

EBITDA margin measures profitability as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) divided by revenue. By adding back depreciation and amortization to operating profit, it approximates the cash-based profitability of the core business and ignores how assets were financed or how their costs are spread over time. It is widely used to compare companies with heavy fixed assets.

Why it matters

EBITDA margin is popular for comparing capital-intensive firms because it removes non-cash charges and financing differences, making operations easier to compare. The major pitfall is that EBITDA is not a standardized accounting figure and ignores real costs like capital spending needed to maintain the business, so it can flatter companies with high reinvestment needs or heavy debt. It should be read alongside operating margin and free cash flow, not on its own.

How it's calculated

Take operating income (EBIT) and add back depreciation and amortization to get EBITDA, then divide by revenue and express as a percentage.

How Quintarthai uses it

EBITDA-based metrics appear in the enterprise-value and profitability ratios on a company's deep-analysis page, where they are paired with EV/EBITDA multiples and the full income statement.

Cross-border note. Because EBITDA is a non-GAAP, non-IFRS figure that each company defines, cross-border comparisons should confirm both the Canadian and US company calculate it the same way before drawing conclusions.

FAQ

Is a higher EBITDA margin always better?
Not necessarily. EBITDA ignores capital expenditures and interest, so a high EBITDA margin can mask a business that needs huge reinvestment or carries heavy debt. Always check free cash flow alongside it.
Why do analysts use EBITDA margin instead of net margin?
EBITDA margin removes financing, tax, and non-cash depreciation differences, making it easier to compare the underlying operations of companies with different debt levels or asset bases.
Related terms
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