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Operating profit is the income a company generates from its core business operations after deducting operating expenses but before accounting for interest and taxes. It reflects the efficiency and profitability of day-to-day activities.
What is Operating Profit?
Operating profit shows how much a company earns from its regular operations, excluding non-operating items such as financing costs, taxes, and extraordinary gains or losses. It is a key indicator of operational performance.
Definition
Operating profit is the profit remaining after subtracting operating expenses (including cost of goods sold (COGS), salaries, overhead, and depreciation) from gross profit.
Key Takeaways
- Measures profitability from core business operations.
- Excludes interest, taxes, and non-operating income or expenses.
- Also referred to as operating income or EBIT.
- Widely used by investors and analysts to assess operational strength.
Understanding Operating Profit
Operating profit focuses solely on the activities a company performs to produce and sell goods or services. Because it excludes financing and tax effects, it allows for clearer comparisons between companies with different capital structures.
Businesses track operating profit to:
- Evaluate operational efficiency
- Identify cost-control opportunities
- Support pricing and budgeting decisions
- Forecast long-term profitability
Formula
Operating Profit = Gross Profit – Operating Expenses
Where operating expenses may include:
- SG&A (selling, general, administrative)
- Depreciation & amortization
- Research & development (R&D)
- Other operating costs
Real-World Example
A manufacturing company earns $12 million in gross profit. Its operating expenses total $7 million.
Operating Profit = $12M – $7M = $5M
This $5 million reflects operating success independent of interest and taxes.
Importance in Business or Economics
Operating profit is essential because it:
- Provides insight into core operational performance
- Helps assess profitability trends over time
- Influences credit ratings and investment decisions
- Forms the basis for valuation ratios such as EV/EBIT
Strong operating profit indicates sustainable business operations.
Types or Variations
Operating Income: Equivalent term.
EBIT: Same metric, commonly used in valuation.
Adjusted Operating Profit: Removes one-time items for normalized comparison.
Related Terms
- Gross Profit
- EBIT
- EBITDA
- Operating Margin
- Net Income
- Financial Analysis
Sources and Further Reading
- Investopedia – Operating Profit: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operatingprofit.asp
- SEC – Income Statement Structure: https://www.sec.gov
- Corporate Finance Institute – Profitability Metrics: https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com
- Harvard Business Review – Financial Performance Measures: https://hbr.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is operating profit the same as EBIT?
Yes. EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes) is another name for operating profit.
Can operating profit be negative?
Yes. Negative operating profit means the company’s core operations are unprofitable.
Why is operating profit important to investors?
It reveals operational strength without the distortion of tax or financing differences.
