What is the Earnings per share? from anandtech benchmark Watch Video

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✓ Published: 26-Apr-2024

Description:
Earnings per share (EPS) is a financial metric that represents the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share of its common stock. It is a widely used indicator of a company's profitability and is often considered one of the most important factors in determining a company's stock price.<br/><br/>EPS is calculated by dividing the company's net income (after deducting preferred dividends, if any) by the weighted average number of outstanding shares during a specific period, typically a fiscal quarter or year. The formula for EPS is as follows:<br/><br/>EPS<br/>=<br/>Net Income<br/>−<br/>Preferred Dividends<br/>Weighted Average Number of Outstanding Shares<br/>EPS= <br/>Weighted Average Number of Outstanding Shares<br/>Net Income−Preferred Dividends<br/>​<br/> <br/><br/>Key points regarding EPS:<br/><br/>Net Income: This is the company's total earnings after deducting all expenses, taxes, and interest. It is typically found on the income statement.<br/>Preferred Dividends: If a company has issued preferred stock, any dividends paid to preferred shareholders must be subtracted from net income before calculating EPS. This is because preferred shareholders have priority over common shareholders in receiving dividends.<br/>Weighted Average Number of Outstanding Shares: This represents the average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. It accounts for any changes in the number of shares outstanding, such as stock splits, stock dividends, or share repurchases, by weighting the number of shares outstanding at each point in time.<br/>EPS is an important metric for investors, as it provides insight into how much profit a company is generating for each share of its common stock. Higher EPS generally indicates greater profitability on a per-share basis, which can be favorable for investors. However, it's important to consider EPS in conjunction with other financial metrics and factors, such as revenue growth, profit margins, and industry benchmarks, to get a comprehensive understanding of a company's financial performance and prospects.