If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? 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. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Although, when we looked at JFE Holdings (TSE:5411), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.
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 JFE Holdings, this is the formula:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.052 = JP¥217b ÷ (JP¥5.8t - JP¥1.6t) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2024).
Thus, JFE Holdings has an ROCE of 5.2%. In absolute terms, that's a low return but it's around the Metals and Mining industry average of 6.4%.
Check out our latest analysis for JFE Holdings
In the above chart we have measured JFE Holdings' 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 analyst report for JFE Holdings .
The Trend Of ROCE
There hasn't been much to report for JFE Holdings' returns and its level of capital employed because both metrics have been steady for the past five years. Businesses with these traits tend to be mature and steady operations because they're past the growth phase. So unless we see a substantial change at JFE Holdings in terms of ROCE and additional investments being made, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger.
The Bottom Line
In a nutshell, JFE Holdings has been trudging along with the same returns from the same amount of capital over the last five years. Although the market must be expecting these trends to improve because the stock has gained 78% over the last five years. Ultimately, if the underlying trends persist, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger going forward.
Like most companies, JFE Holdings does come with some risks, and we've found 3 warning signs that you should be aware of.
While JFE Holdings 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 TSE:5411
JFE Holdings
Through its subsidiaries, engages in steel, engineering, and trading businesses in Japan and internationally.
Undervalued with excellent balance sheet and pays a dividend.
