Another very important factor is how long you plan to stay in your home. Generally, the longer you plan to remain in your home, the more it makes sense to buy. In his calculator, Reagan emphasizes the “breakeven point,” or how long it takes before the benefits of homeownership outweigh the savings from renting.The median price-to-rent ratio in the U.S. was about 14.3 in 2024, according to an analysis by real estate firm Clever.Reagan’s calculator helps illustrate how those costs affect the outcome. When you ...

Core Insights - The Operating Ratio (OR) is a critical metric for assessing the efficiency of a trucking business, indicating the percentage of revenue consumed by operating expenses [3][5]. - Understanding the OR is essential for owner-operators and small fleets to make informed business decisions and identify inefficiencies [2][5]. Definition and Calculation - The Operating Ratio is calculated using the formula: Operating Ratio = (Operating Expenses ÷ Revenue) × 100, which provides a percentage that reflects the cost of earning a dollar [3]. - For example, if monthly operating expenses are $16,000 and revenue is $20,000, the OR would be 80%, meaning 80 cents of every dollar earned goes to operating costs [3]. Comparison with Breakeven Point - The OR differs from the breakeven point; while the breakeven point indicates the revenue needed to cover expenses, the OR shows what percentage of revenue is allocated to costs [4]. - The breakeven point is typically expressed in dollars or miles, whereas the OR is a percentage that allows for month-over-month or truck-to-truck comparisons [4]. Importance of Tracking OR - Tracking the OR is vital for identifying operational efficiency; a rising OR indicates increasing costs that need to be addressed [5][6]. - An OR under 85% is considered healthy, 85-95% is lean but manageable, and above 95% indicates a danger zone where the business may be losing money [6]. Implications of OR Changes - A consistent increase in OR, despite stable miles and rates, suggests rising costs in areas such as fuel, repairs, or insurance, necessitating further investigation [7].