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Returns On Capital At Rentokil Initial (LON:RTO) Paint An Interesting Picture

There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. 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. Having said that, from a first glance at Rentokil Initial (LON:RTO) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it?

Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. The formula for this calculation on Rentokil Initial is:

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

0.10 = UK£276m ÷ (UK£4.3b - UK£1.6b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2020).

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Thus, Rentokil Initial has an ROCE of 10%. By itself that's a normal return on capital and it's in line with the industry's average returns of 10%.

See our latest analysis for Rentokil Initial

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Above you can see how the current ROCE for Rentokil Initial 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.

So How Is Rentokil Initial's ROCE Trending?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at Rentokil Initial, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 22%, but since then they've fallen to 10%. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

What We Can Learn From Rentokil Initial's ROCE

To conclude, we've found that Rentokil Initial is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. Investors must think there's better things to come because the stock has knocked it out of the park, delivering a 239% gain to shareholders who have held over the last five years. Ultimately, if the underlying trends persist, we wouldn't hold our breath on it being a multi-bagger going forward.

Rentokil Initial does have some risks though, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Rentokil Initial that you might be interested in.

While Rentokil Initial 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. 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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com.