Ningbo TechmationLtd's (SHSE:603015) stock is up by a considerable 15% over the past week. However, we decided to pay close attention to its weak financials as we are doubtful that the current momentum will keep up, given the scenario. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Ningbo TechmationLtd's ROE today.

Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

View our latest analysis for Ningbo TechmationLtd

How Do You Calculate Return On Equity?

ROE can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Ningbo TechmationLtd is:

2.7% = CN¥36m ÷ CN¥1.3b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. So, this means that for every CN¥1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of CN¥0.03.

What Has ROE Got To Do With Earnings Growth?

So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. Based on how much of its profits the company chooses to reinvest or "retain", we are then able to evaluate a company's future ability to generate profits. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don't share these attributes.

Ningbo TechmationLtd's Earnings Growth And 2.7% ROE

It is hard to argue that Ningbo TechmationLtd's ROE is much good in and of itself. Even compared to the average industry ROE of 6.8%, the company's ROE is quite dismal. Thus, the low net income growth of 2.9% seen by Ningbo TechmationLtd over the past five years could probably be the result of it having a lower ROE.

As a next step, we compared Ningbo TechmationLtd's net income growth with the industry and were disappointed to see that the company's growth is lower than the industry average growth of 11% in the same period.

Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. What investors need to determine next is if the expected earnings growth, or the lack of it, is already built into the share price. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. One good indicator of expected earnings growth is the P/E ratio which determines the price the market is willing to pay for a stock based on its earnings prospects. So, you may want to check if Ningbo TechmationLtd is trading on a high P/E or a low P/E, relative to its industry.

Is Ningbo TechmationLtd Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

The high three-year median payout ratio of 52% (that is, the company retains only 48% of its income) over the past three years for Ningbo TechmationLtd suggests that the company's earnings growth was lower as a result of paying out a majority of its earnings.

Additionally, Ningbo TechmationLtd has paid dividends over a period of eight years, which means that the company's management is determined to pay dividends even if it means little to no earnings growth.

Conclusion

On the whole, Ningbo TechmationLtd's performance is quite a big let-down. The company has seen a lack of earnings growth as a result of retaining very little profits and whatever little it does retain, is being reinvested at a very low rate of return. In brief, we think the company is risky and investors should think twice before making any final judgement on this company. To know the 2 risks we have identified for Ningbo TechmationLtd visit our risks dashboard for free.

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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.