If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. One common approach is to try and find a company withreturnson capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growingamountof capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. So when we looked at the ROCE trend of Providence Service (NASDAQ:PRSC) we really liked what we saw. What is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Providence Service:

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

0.21 = US$110m รท (US$792m - US$271m)(Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2020).

So, Providence Service has an ROCE of 21%. That's a fantastic return and not only that, it outpaces the average of 10% earned by companies in a similar industry.

See our latest analysis for Providence Service

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Providence Service compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. What Does the ROCE Trend For Providence Service Tell Us?

Providence Service has not disappointed in regards to ROCE growth. The figures show that over the last five years, returns on capital have grown by 429%. The company is now earning US$0.2 per dollar of capital employed. In regards to capital employed, Providence Service appears to been achieving more with less, since the business is using 41% less capital to run its operation. A business that's shrinking its asset base like this isn't usually typical of a soon to be multi-bagger company. Our Take On Providence Service's ROCE

In the end, Providence Service has proven it's capital allocation skills are good with those higher returns from less amount of capital. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last five years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. Therefore, we think it would be worth your time to check if these trends are going to continue.

Like most companies, Providence Service does come with some risks, and we've found 2 warning signs that you should be aware of.

If you'd like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets here.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.

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