What is the Sustainable Growth Rate?
The sustainable growth rate (SGR) is the maximum rate a company can grow its revenue and earnings using only its internal resources — without issuing new shares or taking on additional debt. It’s calculated by multiplying ROE by the retention ratio (the portion of earnings the company reinvests rather than paying as dividends).
If a company has an ROE of 20% and pays out 25% of earnings as dividends, its sustainable growth rate is 20% × 75% = 15%. That means the company can theoretically grow at 15% per year indefinitely without changing its capital structure.
Why it matters for investors
SGR provides a reality check on growth expectations. If a company has an SGR of 8% but the stock is priced for 20% growth, that gap has to be closed by either taking on debt, issuing new shares, or improving profitability — all of which have limits or consequences.
Companies growing faster than their SGR are either leveraging up, diluting shareholders, or operating in an unsustainable way. Companies growing below their SGR are accumulating excess cash that should be returned to shareholders or invested more aggressively.
How Stock Analyzer scores it
| Score | SGR Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A | 20%+ | Strong internal growth capacity |
| B | 15% – 20% | Above-average growth potential |
| C | 5% – 15% | Moderate growth capacity |
| D | 1% – 5% | Limited internal growth |
| E | Below 1% | Minimal growth potential without external funding |
What to watch out for
SGR is a theoretical ceiling, not a forecast. Many companies grow below their SGR for years because they choose capital return over reinvestment. Also, SGR relies on ROE, which can be inflated by leverage — a highly leveraged company might show a misleadingly high SGR. Check the Debt-to-Equity ratio alongside SGR for a more honest picture.