Return on equity (ROE) is a financial measure of how well a company uses its shareholders' funds to generate profits. It measures a company's ability to turn equity into net income and is calculated by taking the net income of the company and dividing it by the shareholders’ equity. Answer:

Return on equity (ROE) is an important metric of a company's financial performance that gauges how well it is using the funds provided by its shareholders to generate profits. It demonstrates a company's ability to convert its equity financing into net income and provides insight into its profitability and efficiency.

ROE is calculated by taking the net income of a company and dividing it by the shareholders’ equity. For example, a company with a net income of $10 million and shareholders’ equity of $100 million would have an ROE of 10%. The higher the ROE, the better a company is performing as it is able to generate more profits with the same amount of equity.

It is important to note that ROEs will vary based on the industry or sector in which the company operates. For example, a company in a highly competitive industry such as technology may have an ROE much lower than a banking or insurance company. It is essential that investors compare the ROE of a company to its peers in the same industry or sector to get a better idea of how the company is performing.

In summary, return on equity (ROE) is a useful metric in evaluating a company's financial performance as it measures how efficiently it uses its shareholders' funds to generate profits. It provides a snapshot of the company's profitability and efficiency and varies based on the industry or sector in which the company operates. By comparing a company's ROE to its peers in the same industry, investors can gain a better understanding of its performance.