What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Although, when we looked at Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd (SHSE:600704), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.

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. The formula for this calculation on Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd is:

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

0.098 = CN¥6.3b ÷ (CN¥193b - CN¥129b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd has an ROCE of 9.8%. On its own that's a low return, but compared to the average of 5.5% generated by the Retail Distributors industry, it's much better.

See our latest analysis for Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd, check out these free graphs here.

So How Is Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd's ROCE Trending?

There are better returns on capital out there than what we're seeing at Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd. The company has employed 83% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 9.8%. This poor ROCE doesn't inspire confidence right now, and with the increase in capital employed, it's evident that the business isn't deploying the funds into high return investments.

On a side note, Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd's current liabilities are still rather high at 67% of total assets. This effectively means that suppliers (or short-term creditors) are funding a large portion of the business, so just be aware that this can introduce some elements of risk. Ideally we'd like to see this reduce as that would mean fewer obligations bearing risks.

What We Can Learn From Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd's ROCE

As we've seen above, Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd's returns on capital haven't increased but it is reinvesting in the business. Unsurprisingly, the stock has only gained 21% over the last five years, which potentially indicates that investors are accounting for this going forward. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options.

One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd that you might find interesting.

While Wuchan Zhongda GroupLtd may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

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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.