Returns Are Gaining Momentum At Strabag (VIE:STR)

If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Strabag's (VIE:STR) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Strabag:

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

0.07 = €451m ÷ (€12b - €5.6b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2020).

Therefore, Strabag has an ROCE of 7.0%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Construction industry average of 9.8%.

See our latest analysis for Strabag

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Strabag compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Strabag here for free.

What Can We Tell From Strabag's ROCE Trend?

Strabag has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. The figures show that over the last five years, ROCE has grown 90% whilst employing roughly the same amount of capital. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects.

On a separate but related note, it's important to know that Strabag has a current liabilities to total assets ratio of 47%, which we'd consider pretty high. This effectively means that suppliers (or short-term creditors) are funding a large portion of the business, so just be aware that this can introduce some elements of risk. Ideally we'd like to see this reduce as that would mean fewer obligations bearing risks.

Our Take On Strabag's ROCE

In summary, we're delighted to see that Strabag has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 79% return over the last five years. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Strabag can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.

On a final note, we found 2 warning signs for Strabag (1 is potentially serious) you should be aware of.

If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.

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