NTIC's ROA % is ranked worse than 75.62% of 1608
companies
in the Chemicals industry
Industry Median: 2.9
vs NTIC: -0.77
Northern Technologies International (NAS:NTIC) 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 four times the quarterly (Feb. 2026) net income data. The Revenue data used here is four times the quarterly (Feb. 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.
Northern Technologies International ROA % Related Terms
Northern Technologies International 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 Specialty Chemicals subindustry, Northern Technologies International'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.
Northern Technologies International ROA % vs Chemicals Industry
* 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 (Feb. 2026) net income data.
ROA % is displayed in the 30-year financial page.
Northern Technologies International (NTIC) has a ROA % of -0.13% as of Feb. 2026. Return on assets is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period total assets. View historical data on Northern Technologies International and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Northern Technologies International ranks #1216 out of 1608 companies in the Chemicals industry, placing it in the top 75.6%.
Is Northern Technologies International's ROA % too high?
Northern Technologies International's current ROA % is -0.13%. Based on the distribution chart, Northern Technologies International ranks #1216 out of 1608 companies in the Chemicals industry, which is in the bottom quartile relative to peers. Overall, Northern Technologies International has a GF Score™ of 56/100 and is considered Possible Value Trap, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Northern Technologies International's ROA % compare to FSI and FEAM?
According to the Chemicals industry distribution chart, Northern Technologies International ranks #1216 out of 1608 companies for ROA %. This places Northern Technologies International in the lower half of its industry. The industry median ROA % is 2.90. 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 Chemicals company?
The median ROA % among Chemicals companies is 2.90, based on 1,608 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. 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 Northern Technologies International and its competitors. For the Chemicals industry, the median ROA % is 2.90 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Northern Technologies International's current ROA % is -0.13%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Northern Technologies International stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Northern Technologies International (NTIC) is currently considered Possible Value Trap. The stock's GF Value™ is $13.76, compared to a current price of $8.63 — trading 37.3% below its estimated fair value. The current ROA % is -0.13%. Northern Technologies International's overall GF Score™ is 56/100 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 Northern Technologies International (NTIC), the current ROA % is -0.13% as of Feb. 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 Northern Technologies International (NTIC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Northern Technologies International stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $8.63 is trading 37.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $13.76.
GuruFocus considers Northern Technologies International to be Possible Value Trap.
Key valuation signals for NTIC:
ROA %: -0.13%
GF Value™: $13.76 vs. price of $8.63 (37.3% below fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the NTIC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Northern Technologies International Business Description
Northern Technologies International Corp is a United States-based firm that develops and markets proprietary, environmentally beneficial products and services world wide either directly or through a network of joint ventures, distributors, and agents. It operates through two segments, which include ZERUST products and services and Nature-Tec products. Its main business is providing corrosion prevention solutions that are marketed under the ZERUST brand. The company also sells a portfolio of bio-based and biodegradable (compostable) polymer resin compounds and finished products marketed under the Nature-Tec brand. The ZERUST brand generates a vast majority of the revenue for the company. The company generates the majority of its revenue in the United States.
56GF Score
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