What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. With that in mind, the ROCE of JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd (SHSE:603088) looks great, so lets see what the trend can tell us.

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. To calculate this metric for JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd, this is the formula:

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

0.21 = CN¥171m ÷ (CN¥1.5b - CN¥650m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

Therefore, JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd has an ROCE of 21%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 6.2% earned by companies in a similar industry.

Above you can see how the current ROCE for JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd 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 JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd for free.

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

The trends we've noticed at JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd are quite reassuring. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 21%. The amount of capital employed has increased too, by 45%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.

For the record though, there was a noticeable increase in the company's current liabilities over the period, so we would attribute some of the ROCE growth to that. The current liabilities has increased to 45% of total assets, so the business is now more funded by the likes of its suppliers or short-term creditors. And with current liabilities at those levels, that's pretty high.

The Bottom Line On JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd's ROCE

To sum it up, JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. With that being said, we still think the promising fundamentals mean the company deserves some further due diligence.

One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing JDM JingDaMachine (Ningbo)Ltd that you might find interesting.

If you want to search for more stocks that have been earning high returns, check out this free list of stocks with solid balance sheets that are also earning 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.