Growth added $302K to gross profit.
Higher revenue contributed $302,455.59. The margin effect removed $115,095.05, leaving a reconciled $187,360.54 increase in gross profit.
Make the finding
easy to act on.
A short, evidence-backed readout for leaders who need the answer, the reason, and the next useful question without opening the workbook first.
Independent portfolio example · fictional Northstar Supply data · 2025 vs 2024 · gross profit before overhead.
NORTHSTAR SUPPLY · FY2025 PERFORMANCE
EXECUTIVE READOUT · SAMPLESales grew faster than profit.
Decision signal
Keep the growth plan under review while the team investigates margin pressure. More revenue is helping, but it is not converting into profit at the same rate.
NET REVENUE$8.24M+12.7% year over year
GROSS PROFIT$2.57M+7.9% year over year
GROSS MARGIN31.2%−1.4 percentage points
Start with the West region.
West is $312,710.96 below its annual revenue plan, reaching 88.3% of target. Validate the plan assumptions and segment performance before choosing an intervention.
WHY THIS FORMAT WORKSDecision first.
Decision first.
Evidence close behind.
The brief is deliberately compact: one signal, two supporting facts, one limitation and a next step. The workbook and SQL results remain available for anyone who needs to audit the numbers.
For leadership
Open with the implication, then show only the measures needed to understand the direction.
For the analyst
Keep the calculation trail, definitions and supporting records one click away.
For the next conversation
End with a question the team can answer, rather than a generic recommendation.
CONNECTED SALES PROJECTS
From results to a decision.
Choose the question you need to answer next.
EXCEL DASHBOARD
See what happened
Read sales performance, margin pressure and the gap to plan.
Explore the project →SQL INVESTIGATIONTrace the drivers
Follow the same source records through queries and reconciled results.
Explore the project →PROFIT SCENARIO PLANNERTest a possible next step
Explore how new price, volume and cost assumptions could change profit.
Explore the project →Excel and SQL share a fictional annual dataset and report gross profit. The planner uses a separate monthly example and includes fixed costs to calculate operating profit. It does not import or forecast the dashboard results.
APPLY THIS TO YOUR TEAM
Need a decision-ready readout?
Discuss a concise brief backed by a validated dashboard, clear definitions and an agreed next question.