Returns Are Gaining Momentum At Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR)
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. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR) so let's look a bit deeper.
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 Worthington Industries:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.14 = US$380m ÷ (US$3.5b - US$864m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to August 2021).
Therefore, Worthington Industries has an ROCE of 14%. That's a pretty standard return and it's in line with the industry average of 14%.
See our latest analysis for Worthington Industries
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Worthington Industries 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 Worthington Industries Tell Us?
The trends we've noticed at Worthington Industries are quite reassuring. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 14%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 57% more capital is being employed now too. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Worthington Industries thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.
The Bottom Line On Worthington Industries' ROCE
A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what Worthington Industries has. Since the total return from the stock has been almost flat over the last five years, there might be an opportunity here if the valuation looks good. That being the case, research into the company's current valuation metrics and future prospects seems fitting.
If you'd like to know more about Worthington Industries, we've spotted 4 warning signs, and 2 of them shouldn't be ignored.
While Worthington Industries may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.
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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