There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding 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. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd's (SHSE:688295) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. To calculate this metric for Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd, this is the formula:

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

0.049 = CN¥326m ÷ (CN¥8.7b - CN¥2.0b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

Thus, Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd has an ROCE of 4.9%. On its own, that's a low figure but it's around the 5.7% average generated by the Chemicals industry.

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd 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 Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd for free.

The Trend Of ROCE

We're glad to see that ROCE is heading in the right direction, even if it is still low at the moment. The numbers show that in the last four years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 4.9%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 732% more capital is being employed now too. This can indicate that there's plenty of opportunities to invest capital internally and at ever higher rates, a combination that's common among multi-baggers.

In Conclusion...

All in all, it's terrific to see that Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd is reaping the rewards from prior investments and is growing its capital base. Given the stock has declined 39% in the last year, this could be a good investment if the valuation and other metrics are also appealing. That being the case, research into the company's current valuation metrics and future prospects seems fitting.

One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd that you might find interesting.

While Zhongfu Shenying Carbon FiberLtd 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.