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. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Jiayou International LogisticsLtd's (SHSE:603871) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Jiayou International LogisticsLtd:

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

0.23 = CN¥1.1b ÷ (CN¥6.4b - CN¥1.7b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Therefore, Jiayou International LogisticsLtd has an ROCE of 23%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Logistics industry average of 6.8%.

In the above chart we have measured Jiayou International LogisticsLtd's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free analyst report for Jiayou International LogisticsLtd .

So How Is Jiayou International LogisticsLtd's ROCE Trending?

We like the trends that we're seeing from Jiayou International LogisticsLtd. The numbers show that in the last five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 23%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 207% more capital is being employed now too. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Jiayou International LogisticsLtd thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.

The Bottom Line On Jiayou International LogisticsLtd's ROCE

A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what Jiayou International LogisticsLtd has. And a remarkable 202% total return over the last five years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. 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 Jiayou International LogisticsLtd that you might find interesting.

High returns are a key ingredient to strong performance, so check out our free list ofstocks 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.