Industries with the Highest Profit Margin in the US in 2025

1. Commercial Leasing in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 51.6%

Operators in the Commercial Leasing industry serve as lessors of buildings for nonresidential purposes. Industry participants include owner-lessors of nonresidential buildings, establishments that rent real estate and then act as lessors in subleasing it, and establishments that provide full-service office space. Over the five years to 2023, rising per capita disposable income encouraged more businesses to enter the market. Moreover, incumbent businesses are inclined to increase their production and inventory levels to tap into the growing consumer demand, thus demanding more space. However, declining corporate profit in 2020 partially dampened demand for commercial leasing due to lower confidence in their... Learn More

2. Private Equity, Hedge Funds & Investment Vehicles in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 49.6%

The industry consists of funds that raise capital to invest in various asset classes. Industry assets have become increasingly integral to institutional investors' portfolios and the larger asset-management market in recent years. Institutional investors are individuals or organizations that trade securities in such substantial volumes that they qualify for lower commissions and fewer protective regulations, since it's assumed that they're knowledgeable enough to protect themselves. Increasing demand from institutional investors has contributed to the surge in the industry's assets under management (AUM) and revenue during the current period.

In recent years, the industry has continued to enmesh itself more deeply within... Learn More

3. Stock & Commodity Exchanges in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 46.3%

Stock and commodity exchanges have remained a vital part of the Finance and Insurance sector (IBISWorld report 52). Exchanges act as intermediaries and provide physical trading floors or electronic marketplaces where buyers and sellers arrange trades in securities, commodities and related contracts. Exchanges facilitate the transfer of assets between market participants in different locations and with various timeframes.

The industry has performed well over the past five years. Wage growth was high and unemployment was low in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing corporate profit and the savings rate. Higher corporate profit encouraged companies to invest in the stock market,... Learn More

4. Venture Capital & Principal Trading in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 40.5%

Venture capital (VC) and principal trading have been integral to the start-up ecosystem for many years, providing crucial funding for entrepreneurs and start-ups. The industry has undergone significant changes in recent years, benefiting from rising security prices, increased trading volumes, unprecedented investment opportunities and greater merger and acquisition activity.

VC and principal trading revenue will grow at a CAGR of 4.4% to $59.6 billion through the end of 2023, including a 2.0% increase in 2023 alone, when profit will drop to 34.5%. The stock market has been mostly strong in recent years. Venture capitalists benefit from the high valuation on the... Learn More

5. Real Estate Asset Management & Consulting in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 35.3%

Real estate asset managers and consultants sell a variety of real estate services, like consulting and advisory, real estate asset management, escrow, relocation, tenant representation, listing and fiduciary activities. Most companies in the industry are nonemployers, with many firms employing just a few workers. Market share concentration is also relatively low, with real estate consulting companies mainly serving regional markets.

During the current period, revenue increased significantly because of massive growth in residential construction. Despite the cratering economy caused by COVID-19 in 2020, low-interest rates and massive government aid spurred more housing starts and home buying. This kept sales for real... Learn More

6. Apartment Rental in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 32.9%

Apartment lessors provide housing to renters either in a property that they own or in a property that they rent themselves. Lessors have enjoyed a period of success recently, although the pandemic and general economic shifts have disrupted the industry and slowed growth. The economic recession brought on by the pandemic resulted in falling rent prices in line with rising unemployment. Also, those that could afford to largely chose to leave cities as the pandemic incentivized people to focus on their living situations. According to the Apartment List National Rent Report, rent prices shot up following the end of pandemic-related... Learn More

7. Portfolio Management & Investment Advice in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 29.9%

Portfolio Management industry operators manage asset portfolios for a fee or commission. In the last five years, the industry has experienced countervailing trends. For the majority of the period, rising assets under management (AUM) as a result of rising asset prices and growing disposable income have increased the base of assets industry operators charge fees on. Increased investor preference for passive asset management, including through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), has driven expenses charged for the management of assets down during the period.

Financial markets play an integral role in AUM growth and, consequently, base and performance fees earned by managers. Growth in... Learn More

8. Tax Preparation Services in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 29.6%

Tax preparation service providers assist individuals and businesses with filing their tax returns, but don't provide accounting, bookkeeping, billing or payroll process services. During the beginning of the current period, per capita disposable income grew and more consumers had the resources to afford bringing their taxes to professionals. When individuals earn more income, they have greater buying power and are more willing to find tax preparers that will maximize their refunds.

In 2020, this trend reversed as the COVID-19 pandemic generated economic turmoil and restrained demand for in-person tax preparation services. The use of free online filing became more popular... Learn More

9. Rail Transportation in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 28.8%

Demand for rail transportation has been turbulent in recent years. The outbreak of COVID-19 greatly hindered demand; industrial production and manufacturing were temporarily halted in 2020. Also, oil prices plummeted in 2020, making truck transportation more attractive since its route planning is more flexible and freight rates per ton are often low, further hindering demand.

A reopened economy in 2021 led trade and industrial production to also recover, while energy exports to Europe and Asia increased, benefiting rail transportation. Surging oil prices also enabled railroad companies to bolster revenue by increasing surcharges to compensate for high fuel costs. These rising... Learn More

10. Solar Power in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 28.6%

The Solar Power industry owns and operates solar power-generating facilities in the form of either photovoltaic (PV) panels or solar thermal power stations. Solar power companies have gone through significant growth, propelled by improvements in the technologies used for electricity generation and government incentives, like the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) targets. RPS legislation requires local utility companies to diversify their portfolio and generate percentages of their energy production through renewable resources. Increases in public support for green energy led to tax incentives and grants to encourage investment in solar power. This has resulted in more companies powering facilities with solar... Learn More