DICK'S Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) Knows How To Allocate Capital Effectively

There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing 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. So when we looked at the ROCE trend of DICK'S Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) we really 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. To calculate this metric for DICK'S Sporting Goods, this is the formula:

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

0.26 = US$1.6b ÷ (US$9.0b - US$2.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to October 2022).

Therefore, DICK'S Sporting Goods has an ROCE of 26%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 17% earned by companies in a similar industry.

See our latest analysis for DICK'S Sporting Goods

Above you can see how the current ROCE for DICK'S Sporting Goods 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 DICK'S Sporting Goods here for free.

What Can We Tell From DICK'S Sporting Goods' ROCE Trend?

The trends we've noticed at DICK'S Sporting Goods are quite reassuring. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 26%. The amount of capital employed has increased too, by 95%. The increasing returns on a growing amount of capital is common amongst multi-baggers and that's why we're impressed.

The Bottom Line

A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what DICK'S Sporting Goods has. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

If you'd like to know more about DICK'S Sporting Goods, we've spotted 2 warning signs, and 1 of them is significant.

DICK'S Sporting Goods is not the only stock earning high returns. If you'd like to see more, check out our free list of companies earning high returns on equity with solid fundamentals.

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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.