Retained Earnings Net Income is the total earnings of a company over a certain period of time, minus any dividends paid out. This can give an indication of how much money a company has kept from its operating profits and reinvested it in the business. In other words, retained earnings net income tells investors how much growth potential and financial cushion a company may have. By tracking this number, investors can analyze a company’s financial health to see if they are a good long-term investment or not.