If you're looking for a multi-bagger, there's a few things to keep an eye out 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. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Although, when we looked at Adecoagro (NYSE:AGRO), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.
Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?
For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Adecoagro:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.083 = US$227m ÷ (US$3.4b - US$637m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).
Therefore, Adecoagro has an ROCE of 8.3%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Food industry average of 10%.
Check out our latest analysis for Adecoagro
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Adecoagro 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 Adecoagro here for free.
How Are Returns Trending?
The returns on capital haven't changed much for Adecoagro in recent years. The company has employed 45% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 8.3%. Given the company has increased the amount of capital employed, it appears the investments that have been made simply don't provide a high return on capital.
The Key Takeaway
In summary, Adecoagro has simply been reinvesting capital and generating the same low rate of return as before. And with the stock having returned a mere 39% in the last five years to shareholders, you could argue that they're aware of these lackluster trends. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options.
If you want to know some of the risks facing Adecoagro we've found 3 warning signs (2 are concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here.
If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive 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.
About NYSE:AGRO
Adecoagro
An agro-industrial company, engages in various businesses in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Undervalued with acceptable track record.
