Finding a business that has the potential to grow substantially is not easy, but it is possible if we look at a few key financial metrics. Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount 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 Moury Construct's (EBR:MOUR) returns on capital, so let's have a look.
Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?
Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Moury Construct:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.19 = €14m ÷ (€119m - €48m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2021).
So, Moury Construct has an ROCE of 19%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Construction industry average of 9.2% it's much better.
View our latest analysis for Moury Construct
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'd like to look at how Moury Construct has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
What Can We Tell From Moury Construct's ROCE Trend?
We like the trends that we're seeing from Moury Construct. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 19%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 31% more capital is being employed now too. This can indicate that there's plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, a combination that's common among multi-baggers.
Our Take On Moury Construct's ROCE
To sum it up, Moury Construct has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Moury Construct can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.
If you'd like to know about the risks facing Moury Construct, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.
While Moury Construct isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.
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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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About ENXTBR:MOUR
Moury Construct
Engages in the construction and renovation of residential and non-residential buildings for private and public markets in Belgium.
Solid track record with excellent balance sheet and pays a dividend.