If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. So, when we ran our eye over Gruma. de's (BMV:GRUMAB) trend of ROCE, we liked what we saw.
Understanding 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. The formula for this calculation on Gruma. de is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.18 = US$557m ÷ (US$4.2b - US$1.1b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022).
Thus, Gruma. de has an ROCE of 18%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Food industry average of 11% it's much better.
See our latest analysis for Gruma. de
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Gruma. de compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Gruma. de.
What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us
While the returns on capital are good, they haven't moved much. The company has employed 28% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 18%. 18% is a pretty standard return, and it provides some comfort knowing that Gruma. de has consistently earned this amount. Stable returns in this ballpark can be unexciting, but if they can be maintained over the long run, they often provide nice rewards to shareholders.
What We Can Learn From Gruma. de's ROCE
The main thing to remember is that Gruma. de has proven its ability to continually reinvest at respectable rates of return. And given the stock has only risen 32% over the last five years, we'd suspect the market is beginning to recognize these trends. That's why it could be worth your time looking into this stock further to discover if it has more traits of a multi-bagger.
One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with Gruma. de and understanding this should be part of your investment process.
While Gruma. de isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.
New: Manage All Your Stock Portfolios in One Place
We've created the ultimate portfolio companion for stock investors, and it's free.
• Connect an unlimited number of Portfolios and see your total in one currency
• Be alerted to new Warning Signs or Risks via email or mobile
• Track the Fair Value of your stocks
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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 BMV:GRUMA B
Gruma. de
Produces and sells corn flour, tortillas, and other related products.
Outstanding track record and undervalued.
