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. Having said that, from a first glance at OK Science and Technology (SZSE:001223) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for OK Science and Technology:

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

0.019 = CN¥36m ÷ (CN¥2.0b - CN¥116m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, OK Science and Technology has an ROCE of 1.9%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Machinery industry average of 6.0%.

In the above chart we have measured OK Science and Technology'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 OK Science and Technology .

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

In terms of OK Science and Technology's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last four years, returns on capital have decreased to 1.9% from 44% four years ago. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se.

On a side note, OK Science and Technology has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 5.8% of total assets. Considering it used to be 63%, that's a huge drop in that ratio and it would explain the decline in ROCE. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Some would claim this reduces the business' efficiency at generating ROCE since it is now funding more of the operations with its own money.

The Bottom Line On OK Science and Technology's ROCE

From the above analysis, we find it rather worrisome that returns on capital and sales for OK Science and Technology have fallen, meanwhile the business is employing more capital than it was four years ago. Long term shareholders who've owned the stock over the last year have experienced a 48% depreciation in their investment, so it appears the market might not like these trends either. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

Like most companies, OK Science and Technology does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.

While OK Science and Technology 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.