Annual reports for non-financial limited companies, account statistics, 2003

Return on total assets, which measures the yield on invested total capital, increased from 6.7 per cent in 2002 to 8.3 per cent in 2003. This is mainly due to an increase in the companies' results. The preliminary figures show a 26 per cent increase in operating profit, while the net profit is more than twice the size in 2003.

In 2003 the operating profit in per cent of operating income was 10.7 per cent. This is 2.9 percentage points better than the same figure in 2002.

The equity ratio expresses the capital strength of the enterprise, i.e. the ability to withstand setbacks and losses. From the fiscal year 1999 to the fiscal year 2002, there has been an increase in capital strength for the non- financial joint-stock companies. The equity ratio for 2002 was 35.2 per cent, but went up to 37.0 per cent at the end of 2003.

Tables:

• Table 1 Key figures for joint-stock companies. 1999-2003
• Table 2 Selected accounting figures for joint-stock companies. Income statement. 1999-2003. NOK million
• Table 3 Selected accounting figures for joint-stock companies. Balance sheet at 31 December. 1999-2003. NOK million