Investors Should Be Encouraged By Hibbett's (NASDAQ:HIBB) Returns On Capital

What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's 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. And in light of that, the trends we're seeing at Hibbett's (NASDAQ:HIBB) look very promising so lets take a look.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

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 Hibbett, this is the formula:

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

0.49 = US$254m ÷ (US$725m - US$213m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to October 2021).

Thus, Hibbett has an ROCE of 49%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 21% earned by companies in a similar industry.

Check out our latest analysis for Hibbett

In the above chart we have measured Hibbett's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Can We Tell From Hibbett's ROCE Trend?

Hibbett is displaying some positive trends. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 49%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 42% more capital is being employed now too. The increasing returns on a growing amount of capital is common amongst multi-baggers and that's why we're impressed.

The Bottom Line On Hibbett's ROCE

To sum it up, Hibbett has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. And investors seem to expect more of this going forward, since the stock has rewarded shareholders with a 90% return over the last five years. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Hibbett can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.

If you want to know some of the risks facing Hibbett we've found 4 warning signs (2 are significant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you want to search for more stocks that have been earning high returns, check out this free list of stocks with solid balance sheets that are also earning high returns on equity.

What are the risks and opportunities for Hibbett?

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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.