Maike Tube Industry Holdings' (HKG:1553) Returns On Capital Not Reflecting Well On The Business

If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, 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. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Maike Tube Industry Holdings (HKG:1553) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Maike Tube Industry Holdings, this is the formula:

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

0.15 = CN¥161m ÷ (CN¥1.8b - CN¥728m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2024).

So, Maike Tube Industry Holdings has an ROCE of 15%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Metals and Mining industry average of 10% it's much better.

Check out our latest analysis for Maike Tube Industry Holdings

Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Maike Tube Industry Holdings' ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Maike Tube Industry Holdings' past further, check out this free graph covering Maike Tube Industry Holdings' past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

The Trend Of ROCE

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Maike Tube Industry Holdings doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 25% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

Our Take On Maike Tube Industry Holdings' ROCE

To conclude, we've found that Maike Tube Industry Holdings is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. And investors may be recognizing these trends since the stock has only returned a total of 12% to shareholders over the last five years. So if you're looking for a multi-bagger, the underlying trends indicate you may have better chances elsewhere.

On a final note, we found 3 warning signs for Maike Tube Industry Holdings (1 shouldn't be ignored) you should be aware of.

While Maike Tube Industry Holdings 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.