SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) Will Want To Turn Around Its Return Trends

What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could 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. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

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. The formula for this calculation on SolarEdge Technologies is:

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

0.067 = US$213m ÷ (US$3.9b - US$694m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022).

Therefore, SolarEdge Technologies has an ROCE of 6.7%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Semiconductor industry average of 16%.

See our latest analysis for SolarEdge Technologies

Above you can see how the current ROCE for SolarEdge Technologies compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Does the ROCE Trend For SolarEdge Technologies Tell Us?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at SolarEdge Technologies, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 16%, but since then they've fallen to 6.7%. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. And if the increased capital generates additional returns, the business, and thus shareholders, will benefit in the long run.

The Bottom Line On SolarEdge Technologies' ROCE

In summary, despite lower returns in the short term, we're encouraged to see that SolarEdge Technologies is reinvesting for growth and has higher sales as a result. And the stock has done incredibly well with a 757% return over the last five years, so long term investors are no doubt ecstatic with that result. So while investors seem to be recognizing these promising trends, we would look further into this stock to make sure the other metrics justify the positive view.

If you'd like to know about the risks facing SolarEdge Technologies, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should be aware of.

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.