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. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Although, when we looked at Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics (SZSE:300303), it didn't seem to tick all of these boxes.

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. The formula for this calculation on Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics is:

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

0.072 = CN¥251m ÷ (CN¥5.2b - CN¥1.7b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

Thus, Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics has an ROCE of 7.2%. On its own that's a low return, but compared to the average of 5.5% generated by the Semiconductor industry, it's much better.

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings , check out these free graphs detailing revenue and cash flow performance of Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics Tell Us?

There are better returns on capital out there than what we're seeing at Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics. The company has consistently earned 7.2% for the last five years, and the capital employed within the business has risen 74% 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 Bottom Line On Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics' ROCE

As we've seen above, Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics' returns on capital haven't increased but it is reinvesting in the business. Although the market must be expecting these trends to improve because the stock has gained 48% over the last five years. But if the trajectory of these underlying trends continue, we think the likelihood of it being a multi-bagger from here isn't high.

One final note, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics (including 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) .

While Shenzhen Jufei Optoelectronics 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.