If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Zhejiang Crystal-Optech (SZSE:002273) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Zhejiang Crystal-Optech is:

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

0.031 = CN¥282m ÷ (CN¥11b - CN¥2.2b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, Zhejiang Crystal-Optech has an ROCE of 3.1%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Electronic industry average of 5.0%.

View our latest analysis for Zhejiang Crystal-Optech

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Zhejiang Crystal-Optech compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Zhejiang Crystal-Optech.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Zhejiang Crystal-Optech Tell Us?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Zhejiang Crystal-Optech doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 6.2% over the last five years. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance.

The Key Takeaway

In summary, despite lower returns in the short term, we're encouraged to see that Zhejiang Crystal-Optech is reinvesting for growth and has higher sales as a result. And the stock has followed suit returning a meaningful 76% to shareholders over the last five years. So while the underlying trends could already be accounted for by investors, we still think this stock is worth looking into further.

On a separate note, we've found 2 warning signs for Zhejiang Crystal-Optech you'll probably want to know about.

For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and 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.