Ramada Investimentos e Industria's (ELI:RAM) Returns Have Hit A Wall

What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. With that in mind, the ROCE of Ramada Investimentos e Industria (ELI:RAM) looks decent, right now, so lets see what the trend of returns can tell us.

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 Ramada Investimentos e Industria, this is the formula:

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

0.12 = €19m ÷ (€226m - €69m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2021).

So, Ramada Investimentos e Industria has an ROCE of 12%. That's a relatively normal return on capital, and it's around the 13% generated by the Metals and Mining industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Ramada Investimentos e Industria

In the above chart we have measured Ramada Investimentos e Industria's 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 Ramada Investimentos e Industria.

How Are Returns Trending?

While the returns on capital are good, they haven't moved much. The company has employed 36% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 12%. 12% is a pretty standard return, and it provides some comfort knowing that Ramada Investimentos e Industria has consistently earned this amount. Over long periods of time, returns like these might not be too exciting, but with consistency they can pay off in terms of share price returns.

One more thing to note, even though ROCE has remained relatively flat over the last five years, the reduction in current liabilities to 31% of total assets, is good to see from a business owner's perspective. Effectively suppliers now fund less of the business, which can lower some elements of risk.

The Bottom Line

To sum it up, Ramada Investimentos e Industria has simply been reinvesting capital steadily, at those decent rates of return. And the stock has done incredibly well with a 131% return over the last five years, so long term investors are no doubt ecstatic with that result. So even though the stock might be more "expensive" than it was before, we think the strong fundamentals warrant this stock for further research.

One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Ramada Investimentos e Industria (including 1 which can't be ignored) .

While Ramada Investimentos e Industria may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

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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