EMD's ROA % is ranked better than 76.02% of 1639
companies
in the Asset Management industry
Industry Median: 3.95
vs EMD: 11.69
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (NYSE:EMD) 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 banks 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:
Note:
The Net Income data used here is two times the semi-annual (Dec. 2025) net income data. The Revenue data used here is two times the semi-annual (Dec. 2025) 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.
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ROA % Related Terms
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ROA % Historical 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.
For the Asset Management subindustry, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund'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.
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ROA % vs Asset Management Industry
For the Asset Management industry and Financial Services sector, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's ROA % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's ROA % falls into.
* 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 two times the semi-annual (Dec. 2025) net income data.
ROA % is displayed in the 30-year financial page.
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD) has a ROA % of 14.49% as of Dec. 2025. Return on assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period total assets. View historical data on Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund and its competitors. This is 101% above median its historical median of 7.22. According to the industry distribution chart, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks #393 out of 1639 companies in the Asset Management industry, placing it in the top 24%.
Is Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's ROA % too high?
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's current ROA % of 14.49% is 101% above median its 10-year median of 7.22. The Asset Management industry median ROA % is 3.95. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's value of 14.49% is 266.8% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks #393 out of 1639 companies in the Asset Management industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund has a GF Score™ of 54/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's ROA % compare to NDMO and DSU?
According to the Asset Management industry distribution chart, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund ranks #393 out of 1639 companies for ROA %. This places Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund in the top 24% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median ROA % is 3.95. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's value of 14.49% is 266.8% above this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 7.22 vs. the industry median of 3.95, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund has consistently been above 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 an Asset Management company?
The median ROA % among Asset Management companies is 3.95, based on 1,639 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. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's current ROA % of 14.49% is 266.8% above 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 Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund and its competitors. For the Asset Management industry, the median ROA % is 3.95 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's current ROA % is 14.49%, which is 101% above median its own 10-year median of 7.22. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $13.93, compared to a current price of $10.54 — trading 24.3% below its estimated fair value. The current ROA % is 14.49%, which is 101% above median its 10-year median of 7.22 and 266.8% above the Asset Management industry median of 3.95. Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund's overall GF Score™ is 54/100 with 4 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 Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD), the current ROA % is 14.49% as of Dec. 2025. 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 Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund (EMD) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $10.54 is trading 24.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $13.93.
GuruFocus considers Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for EMD:
ROA %: 14.49% (101% above median its 10-year median of 7.22)
GF Value™: $13.93 vs. price of $10.54 (24.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 266.8% above the Asset Management median (#393 of 1639)
No single metric tells the full story. See the EMD stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Business Description
Western Asset Emg Markets Debt Fund Inc is a non-diversified closed-end management and long term investment company. The primary investment objective of the company is to seek high current income, and the secondary objective is to seek capital appreciation.
54GF Score
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