Returns On Capital At Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR) Paint A Concerning Picture

There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base 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 Schneider National (NYSE:SNDR), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.

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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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Schneider National:

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

0.04 = US$167m ÷ (US$4.9b - US$705m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2024).

Thus, Schneider National has an ROCE of 4.0%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Transportation industry average of 8.3%.

Check out our latest analysis for Schneider National

In the above chart we have measured Schneider National'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 analyst report for Schneider National .

So How Is Schneider National's ROCE Trending?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Schneider National doesn't inspire confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 4.0% from 11% five years ago. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.

In Conclusion...

To conclude, we've found that Schneider National is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. And investors may be recognizing these trends since the stock has only returned a total of 17% to shareholders over the last five years. So if you're looking for a multi-bagger, the underlying trends indicate you may have better chances elsewhere.

On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for Schneider National that we think you should be aware of.

While Schneider National isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

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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.