Qualys, Inc. (QLYS)

Technology · Software · Price $187.05
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Excellent Equity Returns — Technology
ROE of 37.17% — above the 25% excellent threshold Zyberno applies to Technology businesses.
ROE
37.17%
Return on Equity
ROIC
51.67%
Return on Invested Capital
ROA
19.23%
Return on Assets
Debt/Equity
0.09x
Leverage Ratio
Book Value/Share
$16.07
Equity Per Share

🧮 QLYS ROE Calculation

ROE = Net Income / Shareholders' Equity
Net Income (TTM) $206.5M
Shareholders' Equity $562.2M
Total Debt $53.4M
Debt-to-Equity Ratio 0.09x
ROE (Return on Equity) 37.17%

Understanding ROE

Return on Equity (ROE) measures how efficiently a company generates profits from shareholders' equity. For QLYS, the current ROE is 37.17%.

Why ROE Matters

Warren Buffett has called ROE one of his favorite metrics because it shows how well management uses shareholders' capital to generate returns. A company that consistently earns 15%+ ROE is typically a well-run business that creates value for shareholders.

ROE Benchmarks

Excellent: >20%

Exceptional returns on equity. Often indicates strong competitive advantages. Common in capital-light businesses.

Good: 15-20%

Above-average ROE. Buffett often looks for companies in this range or higher.

Average: 10-15%

Typical for most companies. Returns are reasonable but not exceptional.

Below Average: <10%

May indicate poor capital allocation or challenging business conditions.

The DuPont Analysis

ROE can be decomposed into three components using DuPont analysis:

ROE = Net Margin × Asset Turnover × Equity Multiplier

This breakdown reveals whether high ROE comes from high profitability (good), efficient asset use (good), or high leverage (potentially risky).

ROE vs ROIC: Which is Better?

ROIC: 51.67% →

ROIC measures returns on ALL capital. It's more comprehensive and less affected by leverage. Often considered the better quality metric.

ROE: 37.17%

ROE only measures returns on equity. Can be inflated by high debt. If ROE >> ROIC, the company uses significant leverage.

Owner Earnings: $290.5M →

Shows actual cash available to owners. Use alongside ROE and ROIC for complete analysis.

Net Income: $206.5M →

The numerator in ROE. Understanding net income trends helps explain ROE changes over time.

What to Look For

📊 Full QLYS Stock Report

Intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and 250+ metrics.

🏆 QLYS ROIC

Compare ROE to ROIC — the more comprehensive measure of capital efficiency.

💹 QLYS P/E Ratio

Analyze valuation relative to earnings and understand market pricing.

👤 QLYS Owner Earnings

Warren Buffett's preferred measure of true economic earnings available to owners.

💰 QLYS Net Income

See the earnings that drive ROE calculations.

💵 QLYS Free Cash Flow

Actual cash generation after capital expenditures.

View Full QLYS Report Find More Quality Stocks
📊 Valuation Trilogy
Three interconnected metrics built on Owner Earnings
💎
Intrinsic Value
DCF Fair Value
$253.11
🛡️
Margin of Safety
Valuation Gap
26.1%
🎯
Expected Return
Projected Annual
27.0%
Click any metric for full methodology and detailed analysis

Summary: QLYS Return on Equity

Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) has a ROE of 37.17%, which Zyberno classifies as excellent for a Technology company — above the 25% threshold Zyberno applies to technology companies where high equity returns reflect software economics and capital-light scaling. With a debt-to-equity ratio of just 0.09x, Zyberno notes these returns are being generated with minimal leverage — a particularly strong signal of underlying business quality. For complete financial analysis, view the full QLYS stock report on Zyberno.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is QLYS's current ROE?

Qualys, Inc.'s Return on Equity (ROE) is 37.17%, measured against the 25% excellent threshold Zyberno applies to Technology businesses. ROE measures the company's profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Is QLYS's ROE good?

Qualys, Inc. (QLYS) has a ROE of 37.17%, which Zyberno classifies as excellent for a Technology company — above the 25% threshold Zyberno applies to technology companies where high equity returns reflect software economics and capital-light scaling.

What is the difference between ROE and ROIC?

ROE measures returns on shareholder equity only, while ROIC measures returns on all invested capital (debt + equity). QLYS's ROE is 37.17% vs ROIC of 51.67%. ROE can be inflated by high debt, making ROIC often a more reliable quality metric.

Can high ROE be misleading?

Yes, high ROE can be misleading if achieved through high debt. QLYS's debt-to-equity ratio is 0.09x. Compare ROE to ROIC — if ROE is much higher than ROIC, the company uses significant leverage which adds risk.

📊 Full QLYS Stock Report

See QLYS's intrinsic value, margin of safety, DCF valuation, and complete financial analysis with 250+ metrics.

🏆 QLYS ROIC

Compare to Return on Invested Capital — the most comprehensive measure of capital efficiency.

💹 QLYS P/E Ratio

Analyze the price-to-earnings ratio and earnings yield as a valuation metric.

🎯 QLYS Earnings Surprise (SUE)

See whether QLYS is beating or missing its own earnings trend — Standardized Unexpected Earnings and post-earnings drift.

👤 QLYS Owner Earnings

Warren Buffett's preferred measure of true economic earnings available to owners.

💰 QLYS Net Income

See the bottom-line profit that drives return calculations.

📊 QLYS EPS

Earnings per share — net income on a per-share basis.

View Full QLYS Report Find More Quality Stocks
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