If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base 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. So when we looked at Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd (SZSE:002318) and its trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw.

Understanding 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 Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd is:

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

0.13 = CN¥965m ÷ (CN¥11b - CN¥3.9b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd has an ROCE of 13%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Metals and Mining industry average of 6.2% it's much better.

Check out our latest analysis for Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd

In the above chart we have measured Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd'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 Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd's ROCE Trend?

Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd is displaying some positive trends. Over the last five years, returns on capital employed have risen substantially to 13%. The amount of capital employed has increased too, by 84%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.

On a side note, we noticed that the improvement in ROCE appears to be partly fueled by an increase in current liabilities. Effectively this means that suppliers or short-term creditors are now funding 34% of the business, which is more than it was five years ago. Keep an eye out for future increases because when the ratio of current liabilities to total assets gets particularly high, this can introduce some new risks for the business.

The Bottom Line On Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd's ROCE

All in all, it's terrific to see that Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd is reaping the rewards from prior investments and is growing its capital base. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.

On a final note, we found 2 warning signs for Zhejiang JIULI Hi-tech MetalsLtd (1 shouldn't be ignored) you should be aware of.

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.