Slowing Rates Of Return At Dixons Carphone (LON:DC.) Leave Little Room For Excitement
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base 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 Dixons Carphone (LON:DC.) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.
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. To calculate this metric for Dixons Carphone, this is the formula:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.056 = UK£237m ÷ (UK£6.9b - UK£2.6b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to May 2021).
Thus, Dixons Carphone has an ROCE of 5.6%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Specialty Retail industry average of 12%.
See our latest analysis for Dixons Carphone
In the above chart we have measured Dixons Carphone's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Dixons Carphone.
What Can We Tell From Dixons Carphone's ROCE Trend?
Over the past five years, Dixons Carphone's ROCE and capital employed have both remained mostly flat. It's not uncommon to see this when looking at a mature and stable business that isn't re-investing its earnings because it has likely passed that phase of the business cycle. So don't be surprised if Dixons Carphone doesn't end up being a multi-bagger in a few years time. This probably explains why Dixons Carphone is paying out 30% of its income to shareholders in the form of dividends. Unless businesses have highly compelling growth opportunities, they'll typically return some money to shareholders.
Our Take On Dixons Carphone's ROCE
We can conclude that in regards to Dixons Carphone's returns on capital employed and the trends, there isn't much change to report on. And in the last five years, the stock has given away 54% so the market doesn't look too hopeful on these trends strengthening any time soon. All in all, the inherent trends aren't typical of multi-baggers, so if that's what you're after, we think you might have more luck elsewhere.
Like most companies, Dixons Carphone does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.
For those who like to invest in solid companies, check out this free list of companies with solid balance sheets and high returns on equity.
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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