EBITDA definition

What is EBITDA?

EBITDA is a way of evaluating a company’s performance without factoring in financial decisions or the tax environment. The literal meaning of EBITDA is ‘earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation’.

EBITDA is a measure of a company’s net income – also known as earnings or profit – with non-cash expenses added back to operating income.*

The EBITDA metric can be calculated in two ways – either by adding depreciation and amortisation expenses to operating income, or by adding interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation expenses back on top of net income.

Example of EBITDA

Let’s say company ABC’s revenue is $1 million, but it has operating expenses of £200,000 and £50,000 in depreciation and amortisation expenses. The operating income before interest and taxes (known as EBIT) is therefore £750,000. If we then subtract the interest expenses of £50,000, we have an earnings before taxes figure of £700,000, and if taxes are £100,000, then the net income for company ABC is £600,000.

To calculate EBITDA, we take the operating income, and add depreciation and amortisation back to the figure:

EBITDA = 750,000 + 50,000

The EBITDA figure for company ABC is 800,000.

Pros and cons of EBITDA

Pros of EBITDA

EBITDA is useful for comparing the financial strength of two companies because it creates a singular measure of performance, which can then be applied across industries. It considers the differences in expenses and rates and allows analysts to focus on the outcome of operating decisions rather than imposed taxes and payments.

EBITDA is also commonly used in valuation ratios, such as assessing businesses that have high-value expenses, which can detract from net profits.

Cons of EBITDA

The main drawback of the EBITDA metric is that there is the potential for different components to be included, or excluded, by different companies. This can be misleading to traders and analysts. EBITDA can be used to present financial decisions to a company’s advantage, by excluding any debts – this is known as ‘window dressing’ accounts.

Today, most companies will report an EBITDA figure as part of their regular earnings releases. This isn’t mandatory, however, since it’s not one of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s generally accepted accounting principles (known as GAAP).

When using the EBITDA metric, it is important to look at other factors and performance indicators to ensure the company is not intentionally deceiving investors with its accounting figures.