There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Electra (TLV:ELTR) 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)?
If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on Electra is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.09 = ₪424m ÷ (₪11b - ₪6.3b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023).
So, Electra has an ROCE of 9.0%. On its own that's a low return, but compared to the average of 6.6% generated by the Construction industry, it's much better.
Check out our latest analysis for Electra
Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Electra's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Electra's past further, check out this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
What Does the ROCE Trend For Electra Tell Us?
There are better returns on capital out there than what we're seeing at Electra. The company has employed 104% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 9.0%. This poor ROCE doesn't inspire confidence right now, and with the increase in capital employed, it's evident that the business isn't deploying the funds into high return investments.
On a separate but related note, it's important to know that Electra has a current liabilities to total assets ratio of 57%, which we'd consider pretty high. This effectively means that suppliers (or short-term creditors) are funding a large portion of the business, so just be aware that this can introduce some elements of risk. Ideally we'd like to see this reduce as that would mean fewer obligations bearing risks.
The Key Takeaway
In summary, Electra has simply been reinvesting capital and generating the same low rate of return as before. Although the market must be expecting these trends to improve because the stock has gained 86% over the last five years. However, unless these underlying trends turn more positive, we wouldn't get our hopes up too high.
If you want to know some of the risks facing Electra we've found 2 warning signs (1 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here.
While Electra 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.
About TASE:ELTR
Electra
Through its subsidiaries, engages in the contracting, construction, infrastructure, and electromechanical system businesses in Israel and internationally.
Mediocre balance sheet with questionable track record.