• In recent weeks investors have no doubt found it difficult to sort fact from fiction in the public discussion about company balance sheets. Some commentators have questioned whether banks are generating
  above-normal profits. Others have questioned whether some companies such as BHP Billiton are making profitable use of capital or whether a portion needs to be returned to shareholders. And still others have focussed on the sustainability of high dividend returns from companies such as Telstra.
• To provide a base for the discussion, CommSec has compiled a set of tables on various measures for the S&P/ASX50 – the 50 biggest companies on the sharemarket. The tables are generated from data available from financial research firm, Morningstar.
• In 2010 while major banks’ posted solid profits, their return on equity ratios were largely in line with the average of S&P/ASX50 companies. And their return on assets ratios were at the bottom of the pack. By contrast Telstra reported market-leading return on equity and return on capital ratios in 2010.
• Over the past decade, seven S&P/ASX50 companies had negative shareholder returns including Telstra. Shareholder returns were close to average for CBA, ANZ and Westpac but returns for NAB were below the average of S&P/ASX50 companies.
• Resource companies dominate the results of average shareholder returns over the past decade.

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