Annuncio pubblicitario
Italia markets closed
  • FTSE MIB

    34.750,35
    -9,34 (-0,03%)
     
  • Dow Jones

    39.807,37
    +47,29 (+0,12%)
     
  • Nasdaq

    16.379,46
    -20,06 (-0,12%)
     
  • Nikkei 225

    40.357,41
    +189,34 (+0,47%)
     
  • Petrolio

    83,11
    -0,06 (-0,07%)
     
  • Bitcoin EUR

    65.713,90
    +1.330,17 (+2,07%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885,54
    0,00 (0,00%)
     
  • Oro

    2.254,80
    +16,40 (+0,73%)
     
  • EUR/USD

    1,0782
    -0,0012 (-0,11%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5.254,35
    +5,86 (+0,11%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16.541,42
    +148,58 (+0,91%)
     
  • Euro Stoxx 50

    5.083,42
    +1,68 (+0,03%)
     
  • EUR/GBP

    0,8537
    -0,0010 (-0,11%)
     
  • EUR/CHF

    0,9722
    -0,0004 (-0,05%)
     
  • EUR/CAD

    1,4592
    -0,0014 (-0,10%)
     

The Returns On Capital At Ameren (NYSE:AEE) Don't Inspire Confidence

There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. 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 investigating Ameren (NYSE:AEE), we don't think it's current trends fit the mold of a multi-bagger.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

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. To calculate this metric for Ameren, this is the formula:

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

0.046 = US$1.5b ÷ (US$37b - US$3.6b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2022).

ANNUNCIO PUBBLICITARIO

So, Ameren has an ROCE of 4.6%. Even though it's in line with the industry average of 4.7%, it's still a low return by itself.

Check out our latest analysis for Ameren

roce
roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Ameren compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Ameren here for free.

What Can We Tell From Ameren's ROCE Trend?

When we looked at the ROCE trend at Ameren, we didn't gain much confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 6.6% over the last five years. Although, given both revenue and the amount of assets employed in the business have increased, it could suggest the company is investing in growth, and the extra capital has led to a short-term reduction in ROCE. If these investments prove successful, this can bode very well for long term stock performance.

Our Take On Ameren's ROCE

Even though returns on capital have fallen in the short term, we find it promising that revenue and capital employed have both increased for Ameren. Furthermore the stock has climbed 57% over the last five years, it would appear that investors are upbeat about the future. So should these growth trends continue, we'd be optimistic on the stock going forward.

Ameren does have some risks, we noticed 3 warning signs (and 1 which is potentially serious) we think you should know about.

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.

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.

Join A Paid User Research Session
You’ll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here