What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we’d want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it’s a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. So while Focusrite (LON:TUNE) has a high ROCE right now, lets see what we can decipher from how returns are changing.
Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)
For those who don’t know, ROCE is a measure of a company’s yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Focusrite:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets – Current Liabilities)
0.20 = UK£26m ÷ (UK£187m – UK£57m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to February 2023).
Thus, Focusrite has an ROCE of 20%. In absolute terms that’s a great return and it’s even better than the Consumer Durables industry average of 12%.
See our latest analysis for Focusrite
In the above chart we have measured Focusrite’s prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you’d like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Focusrite here for free.
The Trend Of ROCE
On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Focusrite doesn’t inspire confidence. Historically returns on capital were even higher at 29%, but they have dropped over the last five years. Meanwhile, the business is utilizing more capital but this hasn’t moved the needle much in terms of sales in the past 12 months, so this could reflect longer term investments. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.
While on the subject, we noticed that the ratio of current liabilities to total assets has risen to 31%, which has impacted the ROCE. If current liabilities hadn’t increased as much as they did, the ROCE could actually be even lower. While the ratio isn’t currently too high, it’s worth keeping an eye on this because if it gets particularly high, the business could then face some new elements of risk.
The Key Takeaway
In summary, Focusrite is reinvesting funds back into the business for growth but unfortunately it looks like sales haven’t increased much just yet. And with the stock having returned a mere 31% in the last five years to shareholders, you could argue that they’re aware of these lackluster trends. Therefore, if you’re looking for a multi-bagger, we’d propose looking at other options.
If you’d like to know about the risks facing Focusrite, we’ve discovered 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.
If you’d like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets here.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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