Operating Income vs. EBITDA: A Complete Manufacturing Finance Guide

In manufacturing finance, two financial metrics are used frequently to measure how a company is performing: operating income and EBITDA. Although they seem similar at first glance, they show different parts of a company’s financial health. It’s important for business owners, financial managers, and investors to understand how these numbers work and what they reveal.

This guide explains both terms, shows you how to calculate them, and includes examples that relate directly to real manufacturing businesses. We’ll also discuss when to use each one and how they can help guide better financial decisions.

What Is Operating Income?

Operating income, also called operating profit, shows how much profit a company makes from its regular business activities. It subtracts the cost of producing goods and running the company (called operating expenses) from the money the company earns from sales (called revenue). It does not include interest payments or taxes.

It’s important to note that operating income and overall profit are not the same thing. Operating income represents the profits generated strictly from a company’s core business operations—think of it as a snapshot of how well the main part of the business is running. In contrast, “profit” (often called net profit or net income) includes all income and expenses, even those that aren’t related to day-to-day operations, such as interest earned, investment gains or losses, and taxes.

By focusing on operating income, you’re zeroing in on the profitability of the business before considering the effects of financing decisions or tax strategies. This makes it a powerful metric for understanding how efficient and effective your company’s core operations really are.

Formula: Operating Income = Gross Profit – Operating Expenses

Here’s what’s included in operating expenses:

• Employee wages
• Rent and utilities
• Equipment maintenance
• Selling and administrative costs
• Depreciation and amortization (more on this later)

Operating income gives you a solid look at how efficient your core operations are. For example, if your labor costs are rising quickly, your operating income will go down. That’s why manufacturers track this number closely when they’re managing labor costs or optimizing factory operations.

What Is EBITDA?

EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. This number tells you how much money your company is earning before taking out costs that don’t affect day-to-day cash flow. Depreciation and amortization are non-cash costs, which means you don’t actually pay them in cash each month, even though they show up on financial statements.

Formula: EBITDA = Operating Income + Depreciation + Amortization

Why does this matter? Because EBITDA shows how much cash your operations are generating. This is important if you need to invest in new machines or handle a jump in demand. Manufacturers often check EBITDA when they are preparing for sales increases or taking on new projects.

Where Can You Find EBITDA on an Income Statement?

If you’re looking for EBITDA on a standard income statement, you might come up empty-handed—it's usually not listed as its own line item. Instead, you'll need to do a quick calculation yourself using other figures from the statement.

Here’s how you can find it:

1. Start with operating income (sometimes called operating profit).
2. Add back depreciation and amortization expenses.

Both depreciation and amortization amounts are often found tucked away in the notes to the financial statements or listed among operating expenses. With these pieces in hand, you can tally up EBITDA, giving you a clearer snapshot of your company’s day-to-day cash generation, free from the effects of financing decisions and accounting rules.

Is NOI the Same as EBITDA?

Not quite—they’re related, but not interchangeable. Both NOI (Net Operating Income) and EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) measure profitability, but they serve different purposes and are used in different industries.

NOI is a term you'll mostly hear in commercial real estate, where it helps investors assess the profitability of a specific property by subtracting operating expenses from rental income. It doesn’t include things like interest, taxes, or depreciation, but it also doesn’t consider non-operating business income.

EBITDA, on the other hand, is used much more broadly across industries to evaluate the core cash-generating ability of an entire business. It’s especially relevant for manufacturers, as it highlights operating performance before non-cash charges and financing decisions come into play.

In short:

• NOI: Focused on real estate properties, looks at property-level income minus operating expenses.
• EBITDA: Used by manufacturers and many other businesses to gauge overall operational cash flow, adding back non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortization.

Both metrics offer insights into profitability, but they’re best suited for different scenarios depending on what you’re analyzing.

What Factors Help Boost EBITDA?

Several elements can help improve your company's EBITDA, especially in the manufacturing world.

• Effective cost control: Keeping operating expenses like labor, materials, and utilities in check will directly impact your EBITDA.
• High production efficiency: Streamlined manufacturing processes (think Toyota Production System or Lean Manufacturing) can reduce waste and drive higher profits.
• Strong pricing power: If your business can maintain healthy pricing—even in competitive markets—EBITDA will benefit.
• Scale and volume: Larger companies or those ramping up production can often spread fixed costs over more units, lifting EBITDA margins.
• Industry trends: Some industries, such as pharmaceuticals or software, tend to have higher EBITDA margins due to lower ongoing expenses or strong intellectual property.

A higher EBITDA margin usually means the company is running efficiently and has solid day-to-day profitability. This is why analysts and investors keep a close eye on it when comparing performance across the industry.

What Are Depreciation and Amortization?

To fully understand EBITDA, you need to know what depreciation and amortization mean.

• Depreciation is the reduction in value of physical items like equipment or vehicles over time.
• Amortization is the reduction in value of non-physical assets like patents or software.

These costs are spread out over time in your accounting records, but they don’t impact your cash flow the same way payroll or rent do.

When EBITDA adds these costs back into operating income, it gives a better sense of what cash is available to grow your business, even if your equipment is aging or your software licenses are expiring.

Key Differences Between Operating Income and EBITDA

1. Depreciation and Amortization: Operating income subtracts these expenses. EBITDA adds them back.
2. Focus Area: Operating income focuses on operational efficiency. EBITDA focuses on cash flow strength.
3. Financial Use: Operating income is often used to evaluate pricing strategies or cost-cutting needs. EBITDA is better for comparing businesses or attracting lenders.

For example, capital efficiency ratios might look more favorable under EBITDA because they show how much cash you have to reinvest.

A Real Manufacturing Example

Let’s say your manufacturing business had these figures last year:

• Revenue: $15 million
• Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): $9 million
• Operating Expenses: $3 million (excluding depreciation and amortization)
• Depreciation: $500,000
• Amortization: $200,000

Step 1: Gross Profit = Revenue – COGS = $15M – $9M = $6M

Step 2: Operating Income = Gross Profit – Total Operating Expenses (including D&A) = $6M – ($3M + $0.5M + $0.2M) = $2.3M

Step 3: EBITDA = Operating Income + Depreciation + Amortization = $2.3M + $0.5M + $0.2M = $3M

In this case, EBITDA is $700,000 higher than operating income because it doesn’t include the wear-and-tear costs from your machines or software.

When Should Manufacturers Use Each Metric?

Use Operating Income:

• To manage day-to-day costs and operations
• When evaluating pricing and production decisions
• To compare internal performance over time

Use EBITDA:

• To estimate available cash for expansion or loan repayment
• When discussing finances with investors or banks
• To benchmark your business against other manufacturers

For example, when developing a capital expenditure plan, EBITDA can help you see if you have enough operating cash to fund equipment upgrades or factory expansions.

Similarly, in financial forecasting, EBITDA gives a useful baseline for planning capital purchases over the next few quarters.

Is a 20% EBITDA Margin Good?

A 20% EBITDA margin is usually seen as a healthy sign for most manufacturing businesses. It means that for every dollar of revenue, your company keeps 20 cents before paying interest, taxes, and accounting for non-cash expenses. This level of profitability shows your core operations are running efficiently—leaving you with room to invest, upgrade equipment, or handle unexpected expenses.

That said, whether 20% is “good” can depend on your industry and your company’s unique situation. For example, large manufacturers like Caterpillar or automotive companies might operate with slimmer margins due to higher overhead, while software firms sometimes hit much bigger numbers. Always compare your EBITDA margin to industry averages from resources like IBISWorld or industry trade organizations to see how you stack up.

Also, remember that while a high EBITDA margin is positive, it’s just one piece of your overall financial picture. Other metrics—like cash flow, debt levels, and net income—should also play a role in evaluating your business health.

What Investors and Lenders Look For

Banks and investors often prefer EBITDA because it tells them how much cash a business can generate without the noise of different tax structures or financing models. It’s a cleaner number when comparing businesses in the same industry but with different debt or tax situations.

However, investors also know that EBITDA can make a company look healthier than it is. If your equipment is outdated and needs replacing soon, EBITDA might not reflect that future cost, while operating income will.

Conclusion: Know When to Use Each Metric

Operating income and EBITDA both give valuable insights. The key is to understand what each one reveals:

• Operating income shows how efficiently your business is running.
• EBITDA shows how much cash your operations are generating.

For most manufacturing companies, using both gives the full picture. They support different types of decision-making and can work together to guide smart investments, growth planning, and cost controls.

If you want your manufacturing business to grow steadily and profitably, start including both operating income and EBITDA in your monthly reports. Use them during your regular financial health checks to spot risks early and guide smarter decisions.. Talk to our team today and take the first step toward a smoother, more successful growth.