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. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Nanjing Tanker's (SHSE:601975) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

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 Nanjing Tanker is:

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

0.17 = CN¥2.1b ÷ (CN¥13b - CN¥960m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2024).

Thus, Nanjing Tanker has an ROCE of 17%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Oil and Gas industry average of 10.0% it's much better.

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Nanjing Tanker 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 Nanjing Tanker for free.

The Trend Of ROCE

We like the trends that we're seeing from Nanjing Tanker. Over the last five years, returns on capital employed have risen substantially to 17%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 77%. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Nanjing Tanker thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.

The Key Takeaway

To sum it up, Nanjing Tanker has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific. Investors may not be impressed by the favorable underlying trends yet because over the last five years the stock has only returned 13% to shareholders. So with that in mind, we think the stock deserves further research.

While Nanjing Tanker looks impressive, no company is worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic for 601975 helps visualize whether it is currently trading for a fair price.

While Nanjing Tanker 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.