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'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. In light of that, when we looked at Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power (SZSE:300617) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

What Is 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. The formula for this calculation on Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power is:

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

0.058 = CN¥166m ÷ (CN¥3.7b - CN¥828m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

So, Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power has an ROCE of 5.8%. On its own that's a low return on capital but it's in line with the industry's average returns of 6.0%.

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power 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 Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power for free.

How Are Returns Trending?

In terms of Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 7.8%, but since then they've fallen to 5.8%. However, given capital employed and revenue have both increased it appears that the business is currently pursuing growth, at the consequence of short term returns. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance.

The Bottom Line On Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power's ROCE

In summary, despite lower returns in the short term, we're encouraged to see that Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power is reinvesting for growth and has higher sales as a result. And the stock has followed suit returning a meaningful 69% to shareholders over the last five years. 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.

While Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power doesn't shine too bright in this respect, it's still worth seeing if the company is trading at attractive prices. You can find that out with our FREE intrinsic value estimation for 300617 on our platform.

While Jiangsu Ankura Intelligent Power 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com