Spar GroupJSE:SPP -3.70%52 ROA % is 0.65% as of Mar. 2026, which is 86% below its 10-year median of 4.55. GuruFocus rates JSE:SPP with a GF Score™ of 52/100 and a GF Value™ of R107.93 (Significantly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 312 Retail - Defensive companies, Spar Group ranks worse than 82.05% on this metric.
ROA % is calculated as Net Income divided by its average Total Assets over a certain period of time. Spar Group's annualizedNet Income for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was R295 Mil.
Spar Group's average Total Assets over the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was R45,535 Mil. Therefore, Spar Group's annualized ROA % for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 0.65%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Spar Group's ROA % or its related term are showing as below:
JSE:SPP'
s ROA % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -9.21 Med: 4.55 Max: 7.65
Current: -0.87
During the past 13 years, Spar Group's highest ROA % was 7.65%. The lowest was -9.21%. And the median was 4.55%.
JSE:SPP's ROA % is ranked worse than 82.05% of 312
companies
in the Retail - Defensive industry
Industry Median: 3.56
vs JSE:SPP: -0.87
Spar Group (JSE:SPP) 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 (Mar. 2026) net income data. The Revenue data used here is two times the semi-annual (Mar. 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.
Spar Group ROA % Related Terms
Spar Group ROA % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Spar Group'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.
For the Food Distribution subindustry, Spar Group'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.
Spar Group ROA % vs Retail - Defensive Industry
For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Spar Group's ROA % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Spar Group'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 (Mar. 2026) net income data.
ROA % is displayed in the 30-year financial page.
Spar Group (JSE:SPP) has a ROA % of 0.65% as of Mar. 2026. Return on assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period total assets. View historical data on Spar Group and its competitors. This is 86% below median its historical median of 4.55. According to the industry distribution chart, Spar Group ranks #256 out of 312 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 82.1%.
Is Spar Group's ROA % too high?
Spar Group's current ROA % of 0.65% is 86% below median its 10-year median of 4.55. The Retail - Defensive industry median ROA % is 3.56. Spar Group's value of 0.65% is 81.7% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Spar Group ranks #256 out of 312 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Spar Group has a GF Score™ of 52/100 and is considered Significantly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Spar Group's ROA % compare to SYY and USFD?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, Spar Group ranks #256 out of 312 companies for ROA %. This places Spar Group in the lower half of its industry. The industry median ROA % is 3.56. Spar Group's value of 0.65% is 81.7% below this benchmark. While the company's 10-year median is 4.55 vs. the industry median of 3.56, Spar Group 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 Retail - Defensive company?
The median ROA % among Retail - Defensive companies is 3.56, based on 312 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. Spar Group's current ROA % of 0.65% is 81.7% 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 Spar Group and its competitors. For the Retail - Defensive industry, the median ROA % is 3.56 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Spar Group's current ROA % is 0.65%, which is 86% below median its own 10-year median of 4.55. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Spar Group stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Spar Group (JSE:SPP) is currently considered Significantly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is R107.93, compared to a current price of R45.78 — trading 57.6% below its estimated fair value. The current ROA % is 0.65%, which is 86% below median its 10-year median of 4.55 and 81.7% below the Retail - Defensive industry median of 3.56. Spar Group's overall GF Score™ is 52/100 with 3 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 Spar Group (JSE:SPP), the current ROA % is 0.65% as of Mar. 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 Spar Group (JSE:SPP) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Spar Group stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of R45.78 is trading 57.6% below its estimated GF Value™ of R107.93.
GuruFocus considers Spar Group to be Significantly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for JSE:SPP:
ROA %: 0.65% (86% below median its 10-year median of 4.55)
GF Value™: R107.93 vs. price of R45.78 (57.6% below fair value)
Industry Position: 81.7% below the Retail - Defensive median (#256 of 312)
No single metric tells the full story. See the JSE:SPP stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Spar Group Ltd operates as a wholesaler and distributor of goods and services to SPAR grocery stores and multiple other branded group retail outlets across multiple regions. It supplies fresh produce and merchandise to a network of independent retailers who operate under its brands like TOPS at SPAR, Build it, SPAR Health, and Encore. The company's revenue mainly comprise the revenue from the sale of merchandise, marketing and promotional activities as well as franchise fees. Geographically, it has a presence in Southern Africa, Ireland and South West England, Switzerland, Poland and Sri Lanka, with the majority of revenue generated from South Africa.
52GF Score
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