If we want to find a potential multi-bagger, often there are underlying trends that can provide clues. Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. In light of that, when we looked at Zhongmin Energy (SHSE:600163) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

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. The formula for this calculation on Zhongmin Energy is:

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

0.097 = CN¥936m ÷ (CN¥11b - CN¥1.5b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, Zhongmin Energy has an ROCE of 9.7%. In absolute terms, that's a low return, but it's much better than the Renewable Energy industry average of 5.6%.

View our latest analysis for Zhongmin Energy

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Zhongmin Energy 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 Zhongmin Energy here for free.

What Can We Tell From Zhongmin Energy's ROCE Trend?

In terms of Zhongmin Energy's historical ROCE trend, it doesn't exactly demand attention. The company has consistently earned 9.7% for the last five years, and the capital employed within the business has risen 205% in that time. Given the company has increased the amount of capital employed, it appears the investments that have been made simply don't provide a high return on capital.

The Key Takeaway

In summary, Zhongmin Energy has simply been reinvesting capital and generating the same low rate of return as before. Unsurprisingly, the stock has only gained 32% over the last five years, which potentially indicates that investors are accounting for this going forward. So if you're looking for a multi-bagger, the underlying trends indicate you may have better chances elsewhere.

One more thing, we've spotted 2 warning signs facing Zhongmin Energy that you might find interesting.

While Zhongmin Energy 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.