Gross Profit Margin (%)
The industry average gross margin for all
companies in the period is 28.10%. The average
for big companies in the period is 28.14%. The
average gross margin for small companies in the
period is 35.36%. The best practice companies had
an average of 25.09% during the period.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
All Companies 24.34% 29.06% 29.37% 29.38% 29.61% 20.95%
Large Companies 24.34% 29.09% 29.50% 29.42% 29.60% 20.95%
Small Companies 65.22% 31.31% 20.56% 38.10% 36.31% 38.27%
Best Practice 24.39% 29.01% 24.32% 24.40% 24.37% 19.71%
Operating Profit Margin (%)
The industry average operating margin for all
companies in the period is 4.54%. The average for
big companies in the period is 4.61%. The average
operating margin for small companies in the period
is -14.77%. The best practice companies had an
average of 5.18% during the period.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
All Companies -0.66% 6.67% 5.93% 3.79% 5.63% 3.06%
Large Companies -0.66% 6.71% 6.12% 3.88% 5.63% 3.07%
Small Companies 4.11% -8.46% -28.74% -26.01% -4.56% -8.68%
Best Practice -0.72% 7.33% 6.61% 4.51% 6.53% 3.14%
Profit Before Interest & Tax Margin (%)
The industry average profit before interest and tax
margin for all companies in the period is 5.29%. The
average for big companies in the period is 5.34%.
The average profit before interest and tax margin
for small companies in the period is -11.61%. The
best practice companies had an average of 5.85%
during the period.
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
All Companies 0.04% 7.31% 6.64% 4.51% 6.71% 3.49%
Large Companies 0.07% 7.35% 6.80% 4.51% 6.71% 3.50%
Small Companies 4.41% -8.17% -28.65% -11.07% -4.35% -7.71%
Best Practice 0.20% 8.01% 7.24% 5.10% 7.19% 3.61%
6 | Chapter One Executive Summary
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56