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. 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. 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 Plava laguna d.d's (ZGSE:PLAG) 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. To calculate this metric for Plava laguna d.d, this is the formula:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.12 = €58m ÷ (€533m - €67m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024).
So, Plava laguna d.d has an ROCE of 12%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 6.5% generated by the Hospitality industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Plava laguna d.d
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 Plava laguna d.d has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of Plava laguna d.d's past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us
Plava laguna d.d is showing promise given that its ROCE is trending up and to the right. 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 73% over the last five years. Basically the business is generating higher returns from the same amount of capital and that is proof that there are improvements in the company's efficiencies. On that front, things are looking good so it's worth exploring what management has said about growth plans going forward.
What We Can Learn From Plava laguna d.d's ROCE
In summary, we're delighted to see that Plava laguna d.d has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. And a remarkable 144% total return over the last five 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.
Like most companies, Plava laguna d.d does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.
While Plava laguna d.d may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.
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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 ZGSE:PLAG
Plava laguna d.d
Engages in the hospitality and tourism businesses in Croatia.
Excellent balance sheet and slightly overvalued.
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