Inter-Rock Minerals' (CVE:IRO) Returns On Capital Are Heading Higher
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Inter-Rock Minerals' (CVE:IRO) returns on capital, so let's have a look.
What is 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. To calculate this metric for Inter-Rock Minerals, this is the formula:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.16 = US$2.0m ÷ (US$23m - US$9.8m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2021).
So, Inter-Rock Minerals has an ROCE of 16%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 6.4% generated by the Food industry.
View our latest analysis for Inter-Rock Minerals
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 Inter-Rock Minerals, check out these free graphs here.
What Can We Tell From Inter-Rock Minerals' ROCE Trend?
Inter-Rock Minerals has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. Looking at the data, we can see that even though capital employed in the business has remained relatively flat, the ROCE generated has risen by 98% over the last five years. 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. It's worth looking deeper into this though because while it's great that the business is more efficient, it might also mean that going forward the areas to invest internally for the organic growth are lacking.
On a side note, we noticed that the improvement in ROCE appears to be partly fueled by an increase in current liabilities. Essentially the business now has suppliers or short-term creditors funding about 44% of its operations, which isn't ideal. And with current liabilities at those levels, that's pretty high.
Our Take On Inter-Rock Minerals' ROCE
As discussed above, Inter-Rock Minerals appears to be getting more proficient at generating returns since capital employed has remained flat but earnings (before interest and tax) are up. And a remarkable 120% total return over the last three years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence.
Inter-Rock Minerals does come with some risks though, we found 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is a bit unpleasant...
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.
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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.
About TSXV:IRO
Inter-Rock Minerals
Through its subsidiaries, produces and distributes specialty feed ingredients in the United States and Canada.
Flawless balance sheet and good value.