Returns On Capital Are Showing Encouraging Signs At Chemfab Alkalis (NSE:CHEMFAB)

What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Chemfab Alkalis (NSE:CHEMFAB) so let's look a bit deeper.

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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Chemfab Alkalis:

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

0.013 = ₹39m ÷ (₹3.3b - ₹415m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2021).

Therefore, Chemfab Alkalis has an ROCE of 1.3%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Chemicals industry average of 17%.

Check out our latest analysis for Chemfab Alkalis

Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Chemfab Alkalis' ROCE against it's prior returns. If you'd like to look at how Chemfab Alkalis has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

The Trend Of ROCE

Even though ROCE is still low in absolute terms, it's good to see it's heading in the right direction. Over the last five years, returns on capital employed have risen substantially to 1.3%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 622%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Chemfab Alkalis thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.

On a related note, the company's ratio of current liabilities to total assets has decreased to 12%, which basically reduces it's funding from the likes of short-term creditors or suppliers. So this improvement in ROCE has come from the business' underlying economics, which is great to see.

The Bottom Line On Chemfab Alkalis' ROCE

A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what Chemfab Alkalis has. Investors may not be impressed by the favorable underlying trends yet because over the last three years the stock has only returned 12% to shareholders. So with that in mind, we think the stock deserves further research.

Chemfab Alkalis does have some risks, we noticed 2 warning signs (and 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) we think you should know about.

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.

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.

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