The Profitability Of The U.S. Food Supply Chain: Financial Indicators, Cross-Section And Time-Series Effects

<jats:p>This study examines the U.S. agribusiness profitability from 1986 to 2008. By using regression analysis, we model accounting returns as a function of diverse financial indicators. To select the explanatory variables we further decompose the DuPont equation and perform some ad hoc transformations to model return on investment (rather than return on equity). In addition, using a two-way fixed effects model, we test within sectors and time effects of returns. We compare time effects with the three most recent economic recessions.</jats:p>