Sona BLW Precision Forgings' (NSE:SONACOMS) Returns On Capital Not Reflecting Well On The Business

If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding 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. Having said that, from a first glance at Sona BLW Precision Forgings (NSE:SONACOMS) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

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Understanding 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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Sona BLW Precision Forgings:

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

0.11 = ₹6.9b ÷ (₹69b - ₹6.4b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2025).

Therefore, Sona BLW Precision Forgings has an ROCE of 11%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Auto Components industry average of 13%.

Check out our latest analysis for Sona BLW Precision Forgings

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Sona BLW Precision Forgings compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Sona BLW Precision Forgings for free.

The Trend Of ROCE

When we looked at the ROCE trend at Sona BLW Precision Forgings, we didn't gain much confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 11% from 16% five years ago. 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.

On a related note, Sona BLW Precision Forgings has decreased its current liabilities to 9.3% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE.

The Bottom Line

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Sona BLW Precision Forgings' reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. Unsurprisingly, the stock has only gained 6.0% over the last three years, which potentially indicates that investors are accounting for this going forward. So if you're looking for a multi-bagger, the underlying trends indicate you may have better chances elsewhere.

Like most companies, Sona BLW Precision Forgings does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.

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.