EBITDA multiples by industry

EBITDA multiple is a financial metric used to evaluate a company's financial health and overall value. EBITDA multiples can vary significantly by industry, making it essential to understand industry-specific EBITDA multiples when evaluating companies in different industries.

EBITDA multiple is calculated using two metrics: EBITDA and Enterprise value (EV). EBITDA multiples, or also known as EV/EBITDA, are calculated by dividing a company's enterprise value by its EBITDA, the formula is as follows:

EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. It is calulated like this:

Enterprise value (EV) is sometimes also referred as the total value of the company. Enterprise value (EV) is basically a modification of market capitalisation value adjusted for the company debts and cash.

EBITDA multiples are a useful tool for comparing companies in the same industry, evaluating a company's value, and making informed investment decisions. However, investors should be aware of the limitations of EBITDA multiples and consider other important factors when evaluating a business, such as a company's management team, competitive positioning, and market trends.

EBITDA Multiples by Industries

Here is a table showing EBITDA multiples by industries in the US as of Jul 2026:

Industry	Average EBITDA Multiple	Number of companies
Advertising Agencies	15.38	28
Aerospace & Defense	20.68	67
Agricultural Inputs	9.63	10
Airlines	10.25	16
Aluminum	8.4	4
Apparel Manufacturing	10.95	14
Apparel Retail	10.64	29
Asset Management	13.49	82
Auto Parts	8.67	44
Auto & Truck Dealerships	12.23	22
Banks - Diversified	15.36	6
Banks - Regional	10	283
Beverages - Non-Alcoholic	20.3	12
Biotechnology	18.07	453
Broadcasting	17.46	11
Building Materials	11.92	13
Building Products & Equipment	16.93	27
Business Equipment & Supplies	10.44	4
Capital Markets	12.78	52
Chemicals	12.65	14
Coking Coal	10.68	5
Communication Equipment	24.58	43
Computer Hardware	31.82	31
Conglomerates	12.76	16
Consulting Services	11.41	17
Consumer Electronics	21.12	8
Credit Services	12.4	41
Diagnostics & Research	23.46	43
Discount Stores	15.82	8
Drug Manufacturers - General	17.42	14
Drug Manufacturers - Specialty & Generic	15.38	47
Education & Training Services	12.05	20
Electrical Equipment & Parts	18.16	41
Electronic Components	23.77	38
Electronic Gaming & Multimedia	15.11	12
Electronics & Computer Distribution	10.92	8
Engineering & Construction	17.32	38
Entertainment	14.79	38
Farm & Heavy Construction Machinery	14.65	19
Farm Products	8.83	15
Financial Data & Stock Exchanges	15.67	11
Food Distribution	14.72	9
Footwear & Accessories	13.56	10
Furnishings, Fixtures & Appliances	10.26	23
Gambling	8.65	9
Gold	9.67	34
Grocery Stores	8.44	9
Healthcare Plans	19.14	10
Health Information Services	15.12	41
Home Improvement Retail	11.82	6
Household & Personal Products	15.17	23
Industrial Distribution	17.58	18
Information Technology Services	10.61	48
Insurance Brokers	11.77	14
Insurance - Diversified	7.9	9
Insurance - Life	9.5	15
Insurance - Property & Casualty	8.16	39
Insurance - Reinsurance	4.84	7
Insurance - Specialty	8.92	20
Integrated Freight & Logistics	13.82	18
Internet Content & Information	14.94	46
Internet Retail	18.86	27
Leisure	15.62	24
Lodging	21.49	7
Luxury Goods	16.11	8
Marine Shipping	7.29	29
Medical Care Facilities	15.36	40
Medical Devices	18.71	110
Medical Distribution	15.36	5
Medical Instruments & Supplies	20.14	44
Metal Fabrication	20.39	15
Mortgage Finance	15.53	13
Oil & Gas Drilling	6.86	8
Oil & Gas E&P	5.85	59
Oil & Gas Equipment & Services	9.38	46
Oil & Gas Integrated	5.87	10
Oil & Gas Midstream	9.77	40
Oil & Gas Refining & Marketing	9.04	17
Other Industrial Metals & Mining	12.92	23
Other Precious Metals & Mining	12.89	11
Packaged Foods	11.01	44
Packaging & Containers	10.29	20
Personal Services	11.65	8
Pollution & Treatment Controls	17.15	13
Publishing	10.76	6
Railroads	16.47	8
Real Estate - Development	10.84	10
Real Estate - Diversified	13.02	4
Real Estate Services	15.44	27
Recreational Vehicles	12.07	10
REIT - Diversified	13.98	16
REIT - Healthcare Facilities	17.56	18
REIT - Hotel & Motel	12.12	14
REIT - Industrial	17.41	17
REIT - Mortgage	13.84	38
REIT - Office	15.23	19
REIT - Residential	15.06	20
REIT - Retail	16.27	26
REIT - Specialty	18.14	18
Rental & Leasing Services	11.6	18
Residential Construction	13.14	20
Resorts & Casinos	11.87	16
Restaurants	14.51	42
Scientific & Technical Instruments	25.18	26
Security & Protection Services	11.99	16
Semiconductor Equipment & Materials	43.11	28
Semiconductors	29.95	64
Software - Application	23.11	169
Software - Infrastructure	23.69	118
Solar	19.89	18
Specialty Business Services	13.24	33
Specialty Chemicals	16.4	51
Specialty Industrial Machinery	18.19	70
Specialty Retail	13.2	35
Staffing & Employment Services	13.78	20
Steel	13.96	13
Telecom Services	11.63	35
Thermal Coal	8.26	6
Tobacco	15.48	7
Tools & Accessories	17.27	9
Travel Services	14.3	12
Trucking	14.55	13
Utilities - Diversified	11.25	9
Utilities - Regulated Electric	12.07	33
Utilities - Regulated Gas	11.09	15
Utilities - Regulated Water	13.69	12
Utilities - Renewable	11.58	15
Waste Management	15.97	12

As shown in the table, the Semiconductor Equipment & Materials industry has the highest average EBITDA multiple of 43.11x, followed by Computer Hardware at 31.82x. In contrast, the Insurance - Reinsurance industry has the lowest average EBITDA multiple of 4.84x. These differences in EBITDA multiples highlight the importance of understanding industry-specific factors that affect a company's financial health and performance.

Industries with lowest EBITDA Multiple

Industries with the lowest EBITDA Multiple are presented in the chart and table below. The chart also allows filtering by sector so you can explore the industry EBITDA Multiple ranking in each sector.

Industry	Average EBITDA Multiple	Number of companies
Insurance - Reinsurance	4.84	7
Oil & Gas E&P	5.85	59
Oil & Gas Integrated	5.87	10
Oil & Gas Drilling	6.86	8
Marine Shipping	7.29	29
Insurance - Diversified	7.9	9
Insurance - Property & Casualty	8.16	39
Thermal Coal	8.26	6
Aluminum	8.4	4
Grocery Stores	8.44	9

Industries with highest EBITDA Multiple

Industries with the highest EBITDA Multiple are shown in the following chart and table. You can further refine the industries in the chart by sector.

Industry	Average EBITDA Multiple	Number of companies
Semiconductor Equipment & Materials	43.11	28
Computer Hardware	31.82	31
Semiconductors	29.95	64
Scientific & Technical Instruments	25.18	26
Communication Equipment	24.58	43
Electronic Components	23.77	38
Software - Infrastructure	23.69	118
Diagnostics & Research	23.46	43
Software - Application	23.11	169
Lodging	21.49	7

Factors that Influence EBITDA Multiples

Several factors can influence EBITDA multiples, including:

• Industry-specific factors
• Market trends
• Company-specific factors
• Macro economic conditions

Understanding these factors can help investors evaluate a company's EBITDA multiples accurately and make informed investment decisions.

Why EBITDA Multiples are Different Across Industries

EBITDA multiples are different across industries because of various factors that affect the company's financial health and performance that are specific to that industry. For instance, industries with high growth potential, high margins, and low levels of competition tend to have higher EBITDA multiples. On the other hand, industries with low growth potential, low margins, and high levels of competition tend to have lower EBITDA multiples. Some of the factors that affect EBITDA multiples across industries include:

Barriers to Entry

Industries with high barriers to entry (commonly referred as business moats) tend to have high EBITDA multiples. This is because companies in these industries are perceived as protected from new competitors, which leads to higher profit margins and revenue growth rates.

Examples of industries with high barriers to entry include the healthcare, technology, airlines, telecommunications, and pharmaceutical industries. These industries have significant obstacles or costs for new entrants to establish themselves, such as extensive regulation, high capital requirements, strong intellectual property protection, and expertise required to develop and maintain innovative products or services. This makes it challenging for new companies to enter the market and compete with established players.

Capital Intensity

Industries that require significant capital expenditures tend to have low EBITDA multiples. This is because the high capital requirements lead to lower profit margins, which results in lower EBITDA multiples.

The oil and gas, manufacturing, utilities, construction, and transportation industries are examples of capital-intensive industries that require significant investments in physical assets such as machinery, equipment, and facilities. These investments can be a significant barrier to entry for new companies, as they require substantial capital and access to financing. Companies in these industries must make ongoing investments in order to remain competitive and maintain their operations.

Competition

Industries with high levels of competition tend to have lower EBITDA multiples. This is because companies in these industries face pressure to keep prices low, which results in lower profit margins and revenue growth rates.

The retail, food and beverage, hospitality, advertising and media, and transportation industries are examples of highly competitive industries with low EBITDA multiples. These industries have intense competition, resulting in lower profitability and valuations. Companies in these industries must focus on cost control, differentiation, and innovation to remain competitive and profitable. Investors tend to value companies in these industries based on factors beyond just EBITDA multiples, such as growth potential, market share, and management expertise.

Advantages and Limitations of EBITDA Multiples

EBITDA multiples have several advantages and limitations when used to asses a company value. EBITDA multiples are a popular method for valuing businesses due to their simplicity and ease of derivation from financial statements.

Advantages of EBITDA Multiples

• EBITDA multiples are straightforward and easy to calculate.
• EBITDA multiples are a useful tool for comparing companies in the same industry.
• EBITDA multiples can be useful for evaluating a company's financial health.

Using EBITDA multiples however has some limitations, such as not providing a direct value for the business and being subject to approximation based on peer metrics. Additionally, since EBITDA is not officially defined by accounting regulations, it is vulnerable to misrepresentation and carries a significant risk of error. Therefore, while EBITDA multiples offer a quick and easy way to determine value, investors must exercise caution and consider other factors when evaluating a business's true worth.

Limitations of EBITDA Multiples

• EBITDA multiples do not consider a company's capital structure.
• EBITDA multiples can be misleading if a company has high debt levels or significant non-recurring expenses.
• EBITDA multiples do not consider a company's growth potential.

When are EBITDA multiples by industry useful

EBITDA multiples are useful for evaluating stocks or making portfolio decisions when there is comparability. Meaning we are comparing very similar businesses, with similar capital structure that operate in a similar way, such as in the case of income-producing properties with uniform comparable properties. However, it becomes difficult to use EBITDA to determine value for tangible and intangible assets that lack comparability. In rare situations, EBITDA can be used by making adjustments and comparisons. In most other situations, such as comparing two technology companies with different market demographics and consumer markets, making comparisons with EBITDA can be difficult.