In finance, what does the term 'profits' typically refer to?

In finance, the term 'profits' typically refers to net income after taxes. This is the amount of money a company has left over after all expenses, including operational costs, interest, taxes, and depreciation, have been paid. It represents the company's actual earnings and is a vital indicator of its financial health and profitability. Investors and analysts often look at profits to assess a company's performance over a specific period, making it a key metric in financial analysis and reporting.

The other choices reflect different aspects of a company's financial performance but do not capture the full essence of what is typically meant by 'profits.' For instance, revenue before expenses simply indicates gross sales without considering any costs, while gross revenue minus operational costs may overlook other expenses such as taxes and interest that also impact overall profitability. Returns on equity investments refer to the gains or losses made on investments, which is different from the concept of profits defined in financial statements.