no earnings

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "no earnings" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate the absence of income or profit, such as in financial reports or discussions about business performance. Example: "The company reported no earnings for the last quarter, raising concerns among investors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Online retailer Amazon traded at 21 times sales—no earnings means no questions about how quickly those earnings might grow.

Forbes

No earnings?

The New York Times

Many debt-ridden firms had no earnings at all.

The Economist

We estimate that WH Smith Local currently generates no earnings.

The Guardian - Business

Apparently the problem is that many of these high-tech companies have no earnings.

The Economist

There will be no surprise estates left me, no earnings to supplement what I may lose.

The New York Times

But the pages include no balance sheet, no earnings statement, no cash flow statement.

The New York Times

In 1999, technology companies with no earnings or sales were valued at billions of dollars.

The New York Times

If you buy companies with no earnings, "you're going to get burned".

The New York Times

There were no earnings, of course, but there were promising-looking revenue numbers.

The New York Times

Former tech glamour stocks, if they have no earnings, will continue to lose ground.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting financial results, clarify the period for which there were "no earnings" to avoid ambiguity. Specify whether it refers to a quarter, year, or other defined timeframe.

Common error

Avoid confusing "no earnings" with "no revenue". A company can have revenue but still report "no earnings" due to high expenses or other financial factors. Earnings represent the profit after all costs are accounted for.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "no earnings" functions primarily as a noun phrase, denoting the absence of profit or income. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in financial reporting and economic analysis to describe companies or situations lacking profitability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

28%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "no earnings" serves as a straightforward indicator of the absence of profit or income, commonly used across financial reporting, economic analysis, and business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. While seemingly simple, understanding its implications is crucial, as it doesn't necessarily equate to "no revenue" and might reflect strategic reinvestments rather than outright failure. Alternatives such as "zero profits" or "no profitability" can offer subtle variations in emphasis, but the core meaning remains consistent. Understanding these nuances aids in both accurate interpretation and effective communication of financial information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

zero profits

Replaces "earnings" with the more direct term "profits", emphasizing the absence of financial gain.

no income

Uses the term "income" instead of "earnings", focusing on the absence of monetary revenue.

no profitability

Focuses on the lack of "profitability", highlighting the state of being unprofitable.

not profitable

States directly that an entity or activity is "not profitable", emphasizing the lack of financial success.

break-even

Indicates a situation where income equals expenses, resulting in neither profit nor loss.

non-profitable

A more formal adjective to describe something that does not generate profit.

loss-making

Describes a state of consistently incurring losses, emphasizing the negative financial outcome.

failing to make a profit

Explains the situation by stating the failure to achieve profitability, providing more context.

in the red

An idiom indicating a state of debt or financial loss.

without revenue

Highlights the absence of "revenue", suggesting a lack of income generation.

FAQs

How to use "no earnings" in a financial report?

In a financial report, use "no earnings" to clearly indicate the absence of profit for a specific period. For example, "The company reported "no earnings" for the fiscal year 2024 due to increased operational costs".

What's the difference between "no earnings" and "negative earnings"?

"No earnings" indicates a break-even situation where revenues equal expenses. "Negative earnings", also known as a loss, means expenses exceeded revenues, resulting in a financial deficit.

What can I say instead of "no earnings"?

You can use alternatives like "zero profits", "no profitability", or "break-even" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always bad for a company to have "no earnings"?

Not necessarily. Startups or companies in a high-growth phase might have "no earnings" because they are reinvesting revenue into expansion and development. However, sustained periods of "no earnings" can be a cause for concern.