Blog: The Underrated Metric That Can Boost Your Company’s Value

You know gross margin impacts your profit, but have you considered its effect on your company’s value?

When evaluating your company’s value, acquirers and investors often scrutinize your gross profit margin. Gross profit margin is the difference between your company’s revenue and its cost of goods sold. In other words, it’s the profit made from each unit of product or service sold after accounting for production or delivery costs, excluding other fixed expenses. For example, if a product sells for $100 and costs $70 to produce and deliver, the gross profit margin would be $30, or 30%.

A high gross profit margin is crucial for investors and potential acquirers, as it indicates pricing power through market differentiation and a competitive advantage. A strong competitive moat signals long-term sustainability, making your company more appealing to investors.

Conversely, a shrinking gross margin suggests that your company may be competing on price, indicating a lack of unique value proposition or market differentiation. Competing on price alone can leave your company vulnerable to competitive threats and less attractive to potential acquirers.

To illustrate the impact of gross margin on company value, consider Apple and Dell. Apple, with a strong competitive advantage and a healthy gross margin, had an average gross margin of 43% in 2022, compared to Dell’s 23%. Apple’s highly differentiated brand and high-margin subscription offerings, like Apple TV and Apple Music, allow the market to value Apple at over 24 times its 2023 earnings forecast, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion. In contrast, Dell’s commoditized technology products and weaker competitive position lead to a lower gross margin, with the market valuing Dell at around six times its 2023 earnings estimates, resulting in a market capitalization of about $30 billion.

To improve gross margin, apart from raising prices or reducing input costs, invest in differentiating your business in your customers’ minds. When customers see your business as unique, you can charge a premium for your products or services, boosting your gross profit margin—and your company’s value.
Stumped on how to start? Reach out the Beth Renga, Director of Consulting Services, for a complimentary conversation.