Yahoo Finance The Returns At PC Connection (NASDAQ:CNXN) Provide Us With Signs Of What's To Come
Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential 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. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at PC Connection (NASDAQ:CNXN) 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?
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 PC Connection is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.12 = US$83m ÷ (US$1.0b - US$338m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2020).
Therefore, PC Connection has an ROCE of 12%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Electronic industry average of 11%.
View our latest analysis for PC Connection
Above you can see how the current ROCE for PC Connection 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 PC Connection.
The Trend Of ROCE
When we looked at the ROCE trend at PC Connection, we didn't gain much confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 18%, but since then they've fallen to 12%. 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 may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.
The Key Takeaway
Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by PC Connection's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. Investors must think there's better things to come because the stock has knocked it out of the park, delivering a 163% 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.
One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with PC Connection and understanding this should be part of your investment process.
While PC Connection 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.
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