Net profit margin is a profitability ratio that shows how much of each unit of revenue a company keeps as net income. It is expressed as a percentage.
Net profit margin divides net income by revenue and multiplies the result by 100. Because net income already accounts for cost of goods sold, operating expenses, interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation, the ratio captures profitability after every cost. A higher margin means the company converts more of its sales into bottom-line profit.
Net profit margin sits below two related ratios. Gross profit margin measures the revenue left after cost of goods sold alone; operating margin measures profit after operating costs but before interest and tax. Net profit margin is the strictest of the three, because it deducts all costs before dividing by revenue.
A company reports USD 1,000,000 in revenue and USD 120,000 in net income. Net profit margin is:
USD 120,000 √∑ USD 1,000,000 √ó 100 = 12%
The company runs a 12% net profit margin, so it keeps USD 0.12 of net profit from every USD 1.00 of sales.