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. So when we looked at First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) and its trend of ROCE, we really liked what we saw.

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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for First Solar:

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

0.14 = US$1.3b ÷ (US$11b - US$1.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2024).

So, First Solar has an ROCE of 14%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Semiconductor industry average of 8.6% it's much better.

In the above chart we have measured First Solar's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for First Solar .

What Can We Tell From First Solar's ROCE Trend?

First Solar has recently broken into profitability so their prior investments seem to be paying off. The company was generating losses five years ago, but now it's earning 14% which is a sight for sore eyes. Not only that, but the company is utilizing 53% more capital than before, but that's to be expected from a company trying to break into profitability. We like this trend, because it tells us the company has profitable reinvestment opportunities available to it, and if it continues going forward that can lead to a multi-bagger performance.

The Bottom Line On First Solar's ROCE

Long story short, we're delighted to see that First Solar's reinvestment activities have paid off and the company is now profitable. Since the stock has returned a staggering 256% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if First Solar can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.

Like most companies, First Solar does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.

While First Solar 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.