Empresas La Polar (SNSE:NUEVAPOLAR) Is Experiencing Growth In Returns On Capital

What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Empresas La Polar (SNSE:NUEVAPOLAR) so let's look a bit deeper.

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 Empresas La Polar, this is the formula:

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

0.19 = CL$53b ÷ (CL$382b - CL$100b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2021).

Therefore, Empresas La Polar has an ROCE of 19%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Multiline Retail industry average of 6.4% it's much better.

See our latest analysis for Empresas La Polar

Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Empresas La Polar's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Empresas La Polar, check out these free graphs here.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Empresas La Polar Tell Us?

We're delighted to see that Empresas La Polar is reaping rewards from its investments and is now generating some pre-tax profits. The company was generating losses five years ago, but now it's earning 19% which is a sight for sore eyes. Not only that, but the company is utilizing 34% more capital than before, but that's to be expected from a company trying to break into profitability. We like this trend, because it tells us the company has profitable reinvestment opportunities available to it, and if it continues going forward that can lead to a multi-bagger performance.

The Bottom Line

In summary, it's great to see that Empresas La Polar has managed to break into profitability and is continuing to reinvest in its business. Astute investors may have an opportunity here because the stock has declined 61% in the last five years. That being the case, research into the company's current valuation metrics and future prospects seems fitting.

One more thing, we've spotted 2 warning signs facing Empresas La Polar that you might find interesting.

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.