unprofitable returns

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unprofitable returns" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing investments or business outcomes that do not yield a profit. Example: "After analyzing the financial reports, it became clear that the unprofitable returns from the last quarter were a significant concern for the stakeholders."

✓ Grammatically correct

Formal & Business

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Then, to retain them, they have had to offer appealing (and unsustainably unprofitable) returns.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But the Liberal Democrats argue that nuclear energy will cut fuel costs that have pushed the country into a record trade deficit and will help return unprofitable utilities to profit.

The New York Times

Fiat's chairman, Paolo Fresco, who narrowly survived a boardroom assault on his job earlier this month, has been pushing to shed assets to reduce debt, while at the same time returning the unprofitable auto division to the black.

The New York Times

The Spanish government secretly returned the unprofitable Louisiana territory to France in October 1800 in the Treaty of San Ildefonso.

Wikipedia

The third reason is that executives and directors feel no obligation to maximise shareholders' returns by, say, selling unprofitable businesses.

The Economist

They are requiring firms to start making the right sort of noises about return on equity, abandoning unprofitable businesses and focusing on their core strengths.

The Economist

Still, many people are hesitant to proclaim that the markets are on the cusp of another tech bubble or that the markets are returning to the days when unprofitable new companies could be valued at billions of dollars.

The New York Times - Tech

The airline, which lost about $1.5 billion in the six months through September, has said it will cut thousands of jobs and dispose of unprofitable routes as part of efforts to return to profit.

The New York Times

EScores might range from 0 to 99, with 99 indicating a consumer who is a likely return on investment and 0 indicating an unprofitable one.

The New York Times

Its car division, which also makes Rolls-Royces and Mini small cars, was unprofitable for the first nine months of 2009, but returned to an operating profit of 93 million euros in the final quarter, BMW said.

The New York Times

Its car division, which also makes Rolls-Royces and Mini small cars, was unprofitable for the first nine months of 2009, but returned to an operating profit of 93 million in the final quarter, BMW said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial performance, clarify the timeframe for the "unprofitable returns" to provide context. For example, specify whether the returns are unprofitable quarterly, annually, or over a longer period.

Common error

Avoid attributing "unprofitable returns" to a single factor without thorough analysis. Multiple variables like market conditions, operational inefficiencies, or strategic missteps could be at play.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unprofitable returns" functions as a descriptor, specifying the nature of the returns being discussed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It combines an adjective ("unprofitable") with a noun ("returns") to indicate a lack of profit.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unprofitable returns" describes situations where investments or business activities fail to generate profit. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and usable, primarily in business and financial discussions. While relatively rare, as indicated by its frequency, understanding its meaning and usage is crucial for effective communication in these domains. Alternatives like ""loss-making returns"" or ""negative returns"" may offer alternative ways to convey a similar idea depending on the specific nuances you want to emphasize.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

non-profitable returns

Uses "non-profitable" as a direct synonym, simply negating the profitability.

loss-making returns

Replaces "unprofitable" with "loss-making", emphasizing the aspect of incurring losses.

negative returns

Uses "negative" to directly indicate that the returns are below zero.

poor returns

Substitutes "unprofitable" with "poor", indicating a low level of profitability or overall unsatisfactory results.

meager returns

Replaces "unprofitable" with "meager", suggesting that the returns are very small or insufficient.

disappointing returns

Uses "disappointing" to express that the returns did not meet expectations.

unrewarding returns

Substitutes "unprofitable" with "unrewarding", shifting the focus to the lack of benefit or compensation.

unsatisfactory returns

Replaces "unprofitable" with "unsatisfactory", focusing on the lack of fulfillment of requirements or expectations.

fruitless returns

Replaces "unprofitable" with "fruitless", indicating a lack of positive outcome or result.

deficient returns

Employs "deficient" to highlight that the returns are incomplete or lacking in some essential quality.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "unprofitable returns" in a sentence?

You can use "unprofitable returns" to describe investments or business activities that have not yielded a profit. For instance, "The company faced significant challenges due to "unprofitable returns" on its marketing campaigns."

What are some alternatives to saying "unprofitable returns"?

Alternatives include "loss-making returns", "negative returns", or "poor returns" depending on the specific context.

What factors might lead to "unprofitable returns" in a business?

Several factors can contribute to "unprofitable returns", such as high operating costs, ineffective marketing strategies, changing market conditions, or poor investment choices.

Is it better to say "non-profitable returns" or "unprofitable returns"?

Both "non-profitable returns" and "unprofitable returns" are grammatically correct and have similar meanings. "Unprofitable returns" is slightly more common in general usage.