The Return Trends At Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR) Look Promising

If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base 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. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Nabors Industries' (NYSE:NBR) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

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 Nabors Industries:

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

0.062 = US$262m ÷ (US$4.7b - US$529m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, Nabors Industries has an ROCE of 6.2%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Energy Services industry average of 12%.

See our latest analysis for Nabors Industries

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Nabors Industries compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Nabors Industries here for free.

The Trend Of ROCE

Like most people, we're pleased that Nabors Industries is now generating some pretax earnings. The company was generating losses five years ago, but now it's turned around, earning 6.2% which is no doubt a relief for some early shareholders. At first glance, it seems the business is getting more proficient at generating returns, because over the same period, the amount of capital employed has reduced by 42%. Nabors Industries could be selling under-performing assets since the ROCE is improving.

The Bottom Line

In a nutshell, we're pleased to see that Nabors Industries has been able to generate higher returns from less capital. Astute investors may have an opportunity here because the stock has declined 42% in the last five years. So researching this company further and determining whether or not these trends will continue seems justified.

On the other side of ROCE, we have to consider valuation. That's why we have a FREE intrinsic value estimation on our platform that is definitely worth checking out.

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.