Investors Could Be Concerned With R.P.P. Infra Projects' (NSE:RPPINFRA) Returns On Capital

To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? 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. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think R.P.P. Infra Projects (NSE:RPPINFRA) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?

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. The formula for this calculation on R.P.P. Infra Projects is:

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

0.15 = ₹527m ÷ (₹6.2b - ₹2.6b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2021).

So, R.P.P. Infra Projects has an ROCE of 15%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 10% generated by the Construction industry.

See our latest analysis for R.P.P. Infra Projects

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

What Can We Tell From R.P.P. Infra Projects' ROCE Trend?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at R.P.P. Infra Projects doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 20% over the last five years. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. And if the increased capital generates additional returns, the business, and thus shareholders, will benefit in the long run.

On a side note, R.P.P. Infra Projects' current liabilities are still rather high at 42% of total assets. 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

Even though returns on capital have fallen in the short term, we find it promising that revenue and capital employed have both increased for R.P.P. Infra Projects. But since the stock has dived 75% in the last five years, there could be other drivers that are influencing the business' outlook. Regardless, reinvestment can pay off in the long run, so we think astute investors may want to look further into this stock.

If you'd like to know more about R.P.P. Infra Projects, we've spotted 4 warning signs, and 2 of them are a bit concerning.

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.