The North West CoTSX:NWC +0.14%80 ROA % is 6.86% as of Apr. 2026, which is 27% below its 10-year median of 9.43. GuruFocus rates TSX:NWC with a GF Score™ of 80/100 and a GF Value™ of C$47.35 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 312 Retail - Defensive companies, The North West Co ranks better than 85.9% on this metric.
ROA % is calculated as Net Income divided by its average Total Assets over a certain period of time. The North West Co's annualizedNet Income for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was C$109 Mil.
The North West Co's average Total Assets over the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was C$1,595 Mil. Therefore, The North West Co's annualized ROA % for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 6.86%.
The historical rank and industry rank for The North West Co's ROA % or its related term are showing as below:
TSX:NWC'
s ROA % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 6.99 Med: 9.43 Max: 12.84
Current: 8.98
During the past 13 years, The North West Co's highest ROA % was 12.84%. The lowest was 6.99%. And the median was 9.43%.
TSX:NWC's ROA % is ranked better than 85.9% of 312
companies
in the Retail - Defensive industry
Industry Median: 3.56
vs TSX:NWC: 8.98
The North West Co (TSX:NWC) 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 (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.
The North West Co ROA % Related Terms
The North West Co ROA % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for The North West Co'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 Grocery Stores subindustry, The North West Co'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.
The North West Co ROA % vs Retail - Defensive Industry
For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, The North West Co's ROA % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where The North West Co'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 four times the quarterly (Apr. 2026) net income data.
ROA % is displayed in the 30-year financial page.
The North West Co (TSX:NWC) has a ROA % of 6.86% 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 The North West Co and its competitors. This is 27% below median its historical median of 9.43. Over the past decade, The North West Co's ROA % has ranged from 6.99 to 12.84. According to the industry distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #44 out of 312 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 14.1%.
Is The North West Co's ROA % too high?
The North West Co's current ROA % of 6.86% is 27% below median its 10-year median of 9.43. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 6.99 to a high of 12.84. The Retail - Defensive industry median ROA % is 3.56. The North West Co's value of 6.86% is 92.7% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #44 out of 312 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, The North West Co has a GF Score™ of 80/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does The North West Co's ROA % compare to KR and SFM?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, The North West Co ranks #44 out of 312 companies for ROA %. This places The North West Co in the top 14% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median ROA % is 3.56. The North West Co's value of 6.86% is 92.7% above this benchmark. Historically, The North West Co's own ROA % has ranged from 6.99 to 12.84 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 9.43 vs. the industry median of 3.56, The North West Co 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 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. The North West Co's current ROA % of 6.86% is 92.7% 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 The North West Co 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. The North West Co's current ROA % is 6.86%, which is 27% below median its own 10-year median of 9.43. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is The North West Co stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The North West Co (TSX:NWC) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is C$47.35, compared to a current price of C$50.15 — trading 5.9% above its estimated fair value. The current ROA % is 6.86%, which is 27% below median its 10-year median of 9.43 and 92.7% above the Retail - Defensive industry median of 3.56. The North West Co's overall GF Score™ is 80/100 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 The North West Co (TSX:NWC), the current ROA % is 6.86% 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 The North West Co (TSX:NWC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, The North West Co stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of C$50.15 is trading 5.9% above its estimated GF Value™ of C$47.35.
GuruFocus considers The North West Co to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for TSX:NWC:
ROA %: 6.86% (27% below median its 10-year median of 9.43)
GF Value™: C$47.35 vs. price of C$50.15 (5.9% above fair value)
Industry Position: 92.7% above the Retail - Defensive median (#44 of 312)
No single metric tells the full story. See the TSX:NWC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
The North West Co Inc is a retailer to rural and remote communities and underserved urban neighbourhood markets in Northern Canada, Western Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific islands, and the Caribbean. The Company offers a broad Multiple products and services with an emphasis on food, focusing on everyday household and local lifestyle needs. It operates as a retailer of food and everyday products and services through two geographical segments: Canadian and International. The Canadian segment generates maximum revenue and consists of subsidiaries operating retail stores and complementary businesses serving northern Canada, while the International segment consists of subsidiaries operating in the continental United States, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific.
80GF Score
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