Return on Equity (ROE): A measure of financial performance calculated by dividing net income by shareholders' equity.

Return on Equity (ROE) is a key financial metric in both accounting and corporate finance. It measures a company's ability to generate profits from its shareholders' investments. Essentially, ROE indicates how well a company uses investment funds to generate earnings growth. Here are some of the crucial elements that someone in business should understand about Return on Equity:

1. Profitability Indicator: ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. A higher ROE indicates that the company is more efficient at generating profits.
2. Formula: ROE is calculated by dividing net income by shareholder's equity. It's often expressed as a percentage.
3. Use in Analysis: ROE is frequently used in financial analysis to compare the profitability of a company to that of other firms in the same industry.
4. Investor Importance: It is a valuable metric for investors as it provides insight into how effectively a company is operating and how profitable an investment might be.
5. Discrepancies in ROE: A high ROE might seem indicative of a successful business, but it can sometimes be a sign of excessive debt.
6. DuPont Analysis: To get a more accurate picture, many analysts use DuPont Analysis which breaks down ROE into three components: profit margin, asset turnover, and financial leverage.

Understanding Return on Equity is critical for businesses as it provides a quick measure of a company's profitability, insight into management's effectiveness, and a method for comparing the company with its competitors.