Eneco Refresh (ASX:ERG) Might Be Having Difficulty Using Its Capital Effectively

What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at Eneco Refresh (ASX:ERG) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

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

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 Eneco Refresh:

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

0.0035 = AU$49k ÷ (AU$16m - AU$2.4m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2021).

Thus, Eneco Refresh has an ROCE of 0.4%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Beverage industry average of 7.5%.

See our latest analysis for Eneco Refresh

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Eneco Refresh, check out these free graphs here.

How Are Returns Trending?

In terms of Eneco Refresh's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 1.2%, but since then they've fallen to 0.4%. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance.

What We Can Learn From Eneco Refresh's ROCE

While returns have fallen for Eneco Refresh in recent times, we're encouraged to see that sales are growing and that the business is reinvesting in its operations. And there could be an opportunity here if other metrics look good too, because the stock has declined 36% in the last five years. As a result, we'd recommend researching this stock further to uncover what other fundamentals of the business can show us.

Eneco Refresh does have some risks though, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Eneco Refresh that you might be interested in.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.

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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