Operating profit, also known as earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), represents a company’s profit from its core business operations. It is determined by subtracting operating expenses, such as wages, depreciation, and the cost of goods sold, from gross profit. For example, if a company has gross profit of $500,000 and operating expenses of $200,000, its operating profit would be $300,000.
An understanding of this calculation provides a crucial measure of a business’s efficiency in generating profit from its primary activities, independently of financial leverage and tax considerations. This metric allows stakeholders to assess the viability and sustainability of a company’s core business model and to compare its performance against competitors. Historically, analysis of this profitability measure has been fundamental to investment decisions and internal performance monitoring.