DBI (Designer Brands) ROA %: 0.23% (As of Apr. 2026) — 92% Below Median

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DBI Designer Brands Inc DBI
71 GF Score
Price $6.57
GF Value $6.75
Valuation Fairly Valued
! 6 Warning Signs
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What is Designer Brands ROA %?

Designer Brands DBI +0.31% 71 ROA % is 0.23% as of Apr. 2026, which is 92% below its 10-year median of 3.03. GuruFocus rates DBI with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of $6.75 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,067 Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies, Designer Brands ranks worse than 63.54% on this metric.

ROA % is calculated as Net Income divided by its average Total Assets over a certain period of time. Designer Brands's annualized Net Income for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was $5 Mil. Designer Brands's average Total Assets over the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was $1,973 Mil. Therefore, Designer Brands's annualized ROA % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 0.23%.

The historical rank and industry rank for Designer Brands's ROA % or its related term are showing as below:

DBI' s ROA % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -22.01   Med: 3.03   Max: 8.89
Current: 0.5

During the past 13 years, Designer Brands's highest ROA % was 8.89%. The lowest was -22.01%. And the median was 3.03%.

DBI's ROA % is ranked worse than
63.54% of 1067 companies
in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry
Industry Median: 2.06 vs DBI: 0.50

Designer Brands  (NYSE:DBI) ROA % Explanation

ROA % measures the rate of return on the total assets (shareholder equity plus liabilities). It measures a firm's efficiency at generating profits from shareholders' equity plus its liabilities. ROA % shows how well a company uses what it has to generate earnings. ROA %s can vary drastically across industries. Therefore, ROA % should not be used to compare companies in different industries. For retailers, a ROA % of higher than 5% is expected. For example, Wal-Mart (WMT) has a ROA % of about 8% as of 2012. For banks, ROA % is close to their interest spread. A bank’s ROA % is typically well under 2%.

Similar to ROE, ROA % is affected by profit margins and asset turnover. This can be seen from the Du Pont Formula:

ROA %(Q: Apr. 2026 )
=Net Income/Total Assets
=4.636/1972.9145
=(Net Income / Revenue)*(Revenue / Total Assets)
=(4.636 / 2785.4)*(2785.4 / 1972.9145)
=Net Margin %*Asset Turnover
=0.17 %*1.4118
=0.23 %

Note: The Net Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Apr. 2026) net income data. The Revenue data used here is four times the quarterly (Apr. 2026) revenue data.

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.


Be Aware

Like ROE, ROA % is calculated with only 12 months data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective. ROA % can be affected by events such as stock buyback or issuance, and by goodwill, a company's tax rate and its interest payment. ROA % may not reflect the true earning power of the assets. A more accurate measurement is ROC % (ROC).

Many analysts argue the higher return the better. Buffett states that really high ROA % may indicate vulnerability in the durability of the competitive advantage.

E.g. Raising $43b to take on KO is impossible, but $1.7b to take on Moody's is. Although Moody's ROA % and underlying economics is far superior to Coca Cola, the durability is far weaker because of lower entry cost.


Designer Brands ROA % Related Terms


Designer Brands ROA % Historical Data

* Premium members only.

The historical data trend for Designer Brands's ROA % can be seen below:

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

Designer Brands ROA % Chart

Designer Brands Annual Data
Trend Jan17 Jan18 Jan19 Jan20 Jan21 Jan22 Jan23 Jan24 Jan25 Jan26
ROA %
Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only 7.74 8.08 1.42 -0.52 -0.42

Designer Brands Quarterly Data
Jul21 Oct21 Jan22 Apr22 Jul22 Oct22 Jan23 Apr23 Jul23 Oct23 Jan24 Apr24 Jul24 Oct24 Jan25 Apr25 Jul25 Oct25 Jan26 Apr26
ROA % Get a 7-Day Free Trial Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only Premium Member Only -3.48 2.09 3.54 -4.00 0.23

DBI vs FWDI, RCKY, FOSL: ROA % Comparison

For the Footwear & Accessories subindustry, Designer Brands's ROA %, along with its competitors' market caps and ROA % data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.


Designer Brands ROA % vs Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories Industry

For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Designer Brands's ROA % distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Designer Brands's ROA % falls into.


DBI
71GF Score
Designer Brands Inc DBI
ROA % is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis

Designer Brands ROA % Calculation

Designer Brands's annualized ROA % for the fiscal year that ended in Jan. 2026 is calculated as:

ROA %=Net Income (A: Jan. 2026 )/( (Total Assets (A: Jan. 2025 )+Total Assets (A: Jan. 2026 ))/ count )
=-8.374/( (2009.224+1947.633)/ 2 )
=-8.374/1978.4285
=-0.42 %

Designer Brands's annualized ROA % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 is calculated as:

ROA %=Net Income (Q: Apr. 2026 )/( (Total Assets (Q: Jan. 2026 )+Total Assets (Q: Apr. 2026 ))/ count )
=4.636/( (1947.633+1998.196)/ 2 )
=4.636/1972.9145
=0.23 %

* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD.
* For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.

In the calculation of annual ROA %, the net income of the last fiscal year and the average total assets over the fiscal year are used. In calculating the quarterly data, the Net Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Apr. 2026) net income data. ROA % is displayed in the 30-year financial page.

Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about ROA % →
What does a ROA % of 0.23% mean?
Designer Brands (DBI) has a ROA % of 0.23% as of Apr. 2026. Return on assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period total assets. View historical data on Designer Brands and its competitors. This is 92% below median its historical median of 3.03. According to the industry distribution chart, Designer Brands ranks #678 out of 1067 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, placing it in the top 63.5%.
Is Designer Brands' ROA % too high?
Designer Brands' current ROA % of 0.23% is 92% below median its 10-year median of 3.03. The Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median ROA % is 2.06. Designer Brands' value of 0.23% is 88.8% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Designer Brands ranks #678 out of 1067 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Designer Brands has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Designer Brands' ROA % compare to FWDI and RCKY?
According to the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry distribution chart, Designer Brands ranks #678 out of 1067 companies for ROA %. This places Designer Brands in the lower half of its industry. The industry median ROA % is 2.06. Designer Brands' value of 0.23% is 88.8% below this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 3.03 vs. the industry median of 2.06, Designer Brands has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROA % for a Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories company?
The median ROA % among Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies is 2.06, based on 1,067 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROA % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROA % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Designer Brands's current ROA % of 0.23% is 88.8% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROA % mean?
A high ROA % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period total assets. View historical data on Designer Brands and its competitors. For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, the median ROA % is 2.06 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Designer Brands's current ROA % is 0.23%, which is 92% below median its own 10-year median of 3.03. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Designer Brands stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Designer Brands (DBI) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $6.75, compared to a current price of $6.57 — trading 2.7% below its estimated fair value. The current ROA % is 0.23%, which is 92% below median its 10-year median of 3.03 and 88.8% below the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median of 2.06. Designer Brands' overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is ROA % calculated?
ROA % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Designer Brands (DBI), the current ROA % is 0.23% as of Apr. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Designer Brands (DBI) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Designer Brands stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of $6.57 is trading 2.7% below its estimated GF Value™ of $6.75. GuruFocus considers Designer Brands to be Fairly Valued.

Key valuation signals for DBI:

  • ROA %: 0.23% (92% below median its 10-year median of 3.03)
  • GF Value™: $6.75 vs. price of $6.57 (2.7% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 71/100 with 6 warning signs
  • Industry Position: 88.8% below the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories median (#678 of 1067)

No single metric tells the full story. See the DBI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.


Designer Brands Business Description

Address 810 DSW Drive, Columbus, OH, USA, 43219
Designer Brands Inc is a designer, producer, and retailer of footwear and accessories. The company operates in two reportable segments: the Retail segment and the Brand Portfolio segment. The Retail segment, which derives key revenue, operates the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse ("DSW") banner through its direct-to-consumer stores and e-commerce sites in the United States ("U.S.") and Canada, and the Shoe Co. and Rubino banners through its direct-to-consumer stores and e-commerce sites in Canada. The Brand Portfolio segment principally earns revenue from the wholesale of its exclusive and licensed brands to retailers, its Retail segment, and international distributors, and the sale of its Vince Camuto, Keds, and Topo brands through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites.
71GF Score

Get the complete analysis for DBI

ROA % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$6.57
Price
$6.75
GF Value