The Returns On Capital At Ramco Cements (NSE:RAMCOCEM) Don't Inspire Confidence

If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount 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. In light of that, when we looked at Ramco Cements (NSE:RAMCOCEM) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

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 Ramco Cements, this is the formula:

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

0.11 = ₹11b ÷ (₹122b - ₹28b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2021).

Thus, Ramco Cements has an ROCE of 11%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Basic Materials industry average of 13%.

View our latest analysis for Ramco Cements

In the above chart we have measured Ramco Cements' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Ramco Cements.

So How Is Ramco Cements' ROCE Trending?

In terms of Ramco Cements' historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 11% from 18% five years ago. However, given capital employed and revenue have both increased it appears that the business is currently pursuing growth, at the consequence of short term returns. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance.

Our Take On Ramco Cements' ROCE

Even though returns on capital have fallen in the short term, we find it promising that revenue and capital employed have both increased for Ramco Cements. In light of this, the stock has only gained 26% over the last five years. So this stock may still be an appealing investment opportunity, if other fundamentals prove to be sound.

One more thing, we've spotted 3 warning signs facing Ramco Cements that you might find interesting.

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.