The financial ratios highlight the financial statement differences between the proportionate consolidation and equity methods. While return on equity is the same under the two methods, its decomposition reveals meaningful differences. Profit margin (net income/revenue) appears superior under the equity method (.046), as opposed to the ratio under proportionate consideration (.038). Rather than combining Serco’s joint venture revenues of £819.3 million with its consolidated revenues, as is done under proportionate consolidation, joint venture revenues are included net of expenses in investment revenue under the equity method. In spite of the same reported net income, the lower revenues under the equity method drive the profit margin higher, even though no real profitability difference exists. Although the equity
method reports joint venture profits, it fails to separately report the joint venture revenues that generated those profits.