Return Trends At Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ:KDP) Aren't Appealing
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount 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. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ:KDP) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.
Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?
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 Keurig Dr Pepper:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.064 = US$2.9b ÷ (US$51b - US$6.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2022).
Thus, Keurig Dr Pepper has an ROCE of 6.4%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Beverage industry average of 13%.
Check out our latest analysis for Keurig Dr Pepper
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Keurig Dr Pepper compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Keurig Dr Pepper.
So How Is Keurig Dr Pepper's ROCE Trending?
In terms of Keurig Dr Pepper's historical ROCE trend, it doesn't exactly demand attention. The company has employed 207% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 6.4%. This poor ROCE doesn't inspire confidence right now, and with the increase in capital employed, it's evident that the business isn't deploying the funds into high return investments.
What We Can Learn From Keurig Dr Pepper's ROCE
In summary, Keurig Dr Pepper has simply been reinvesting capital and generating the same low rate of return as before. Although the market must be expecting these trends to improve because the stock has gained 38% over the last three years. However, unless these underlying trends turn more positive, we wouldn't get our hopes up too high.
One more thing, we've spotted 3 warning signs facing Keurig Dr Pepper that you might find interesting.
If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.
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