Does Tianjin Tianbao Energy Co., Ltd. (HKG:1671) Create Value For Shareholders?

Today we'll evaluate Tianjin Tianbao Energy Co., Ltd. (HKG:1671) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. Specifically, we're going to calculate its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), in the hopes of getting some insight into the business.

First of all, we'll work out how to calculate ROCE. Second, we'll look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. Then we'll determine how its current liabilities are affecting its ROCE.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?

ROCE measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Generally speaking a higher ROCE is better. Ultimately, it is a useful but imperfect metric. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.

How Do You Calculate Return On Capital Employed?

The formula for calculating the return on capital employed is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

Or for Tianjin Tianbao Energy:

0.054 = CN¥26m ÷ (CN¥532m - CN¥57m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.)

So, Tianjin Tianbao Energy has an ROCE of 5.4%.

Check out our latest analysis for Tianjin Tianbao Energy

Does Tianjin Tianbao Energy Have A Good ROCE?

ROCE can be useful when making comparisons, such as between similar companies. Using our data, Tianjin Tianbao Energy's ROCE appears to be around the 4.9% average of the Electric Utilities industry. Setting aside the industry comparison for now, Tianjin Tianbao Energy's ROCE is mediocre in absolute terms, considering the risk of investing in stocks versus the safety of a bank account. It is possible that there are more rewarding investments out there.

We can see that, Tianjin Tianbao Energy currently has an ROCE of 5.4%, less than the 17% it reported 3 years ago. So investors might consider if it has had issues recently. You can see in the image below how Tianjin Tianbao Energy's ROCE compares to its industry.

Remember that this metric is backwards looking - it shows what has happened in the past, and does not accurately predict the future. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. ROCE is, after all, simply a snap shot of a single year. If Tianjin Tianbao Energy is cyclical, it could make sense to check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Are Current Liabilities, And How Do They Affect Tianjin Tianbao Energy's ROCE?

Liabilities, such as supplier bills and bank overdrafts, are referred to as current liabilities if they need to be paid within 12 months. The ROCE equation subtracts current liabilities from capital employed, so a company with a lot of current liabilities appears to have less capital employed, and a higher ROCE than otherwise. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets.

Tianjin Tianbao Energy has total assets of CN¥532m and current liabilities of CN¥57m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 11% of its total assets. It is good to see a restrained amount of current liabilities, as this limits the effect on ROCE.

The Bottom Line On Tianjin Tianbao Energy's ROCE

With that in mind, we're not overly impressed with Tianjin Tianbao Energy's ROCE, so it may not be the most appealing prospect. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

Tianjin Tianbao Energy is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.