Industries with the Highest Profit Margin in the US in 2025

1. Trusts & Estates in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 57.4%

The Trusts and Estates industry comprises trusts, estates and agency accounts administered on behalf of beneficiaries under the terms established in a fiduciary contract. Industry revenue, composed primarily of capital gains on trusted assets and ordinary dividends, exhibited an increase over the past five years. The industry benefited from substantial yields in equity markets and appreciation in house prices during the current period. Over the past five years, revenue has climbed at a CAGR of 2.8% to $221.4 billion, including an expected 4.2% increase in 2023. Profit is expected to dip to 50.5% of revenue in 2023 from 51.1% in... Learn More

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Land Leasing in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 45.6%

Land leasing companies rent land for residential or commercial use, often for manufactured homes. Leasers range from individuals with small plots to large companies that manage entire communities. Manufactured homes offer a more affordable alternative to traditional on-site housing. In the past five years, land leasing revenue grew at a CAGR of 2.0% but will fall 5.2% to $17.7 billion in 2023. Profit remains high at 50.3% of revenue.

New housing starts slowed and supply fell in the past few years, pushing prices to extreme highs. The rush to build homes and apartments brought a surge in revenue for private landowners.... Learn More

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Security Software Publishing in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 32.7%

The explosion of data, internet-enabled solutions and cloud services have stimulated the expansion of security software services. Companies purchase software to avoid heavy financial losses, damaged reputations or compromised data and sales. Revenue has skyrocketed at a CAGR of 17.8% over the past five years to reach $63.0 billion with a profit of 42.4% in 2023. Revenue jumped 14.0% in 2023 thanks to a widening customer base.

COVID-19 accelerated this trend as employees and customers interacted with companies online. More businesses invested in anti-malware and virtual private network (VPN) software to protect take-home laptops, data sharing, virtual meetings and client information.... Learn More

10. Commercial Banking in the US

Profit Margin 2025: 31.9%

The Commercial Banking industry is composed of banks regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board of Governors (Fed) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Banks generate most of their revenue through loans they originate to customers and businesses. Loans are made at various interest rates that are influenced by different factors, including the federal funds rate (FFR), the prime rate, debtors' creditworthiness and macroeconomic performance.

The industry experienced mixed performance. Industry operators benefited between 2017 and 2019 due to interest rate hikes by the Fed and increasing economic activity. In 2020, the COVID-19... Learn More