Yahoo Finance MTU Aero Engines (ETR:MTX) Is Reinvesting At Lower Rates Of Return
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? One common approach is to try and find a company with returns on capital employed (ROCE) that are increasing, in conjunction with a growing amount of capital employed. If you see this, it typically means it's a company with a great business model and plenty of profitable reinvestment opportunities. In light of that, when we looked at MTU Aero Engines (ETR:MTX) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.
Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)
If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on MTU Aero Engines is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.079 = €413m ÷ (€9.1b - €3.8b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2022).
Therefore, MTU Aero Engines has an ROCE of 7.9%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Aerospace & Defense industry average of 11%.
Check out our latest analysis for MTU Aero Engines
In the above chart we have measured MTU Aero Engines' 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 MTU Aero Engines.
What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us
On the surface, the trend of ROCE at MTU Aero Engines doesn't inspire confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 7.9% from 13% five years ago. 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.
On a separate but related note, it's important to know that MTU Aero Engines has a current liabilities to total assets ratio of 42%, which we'd consider pretty high. This can bring about some risks because the company is basically operating with a rather large reliance on its suppliers or other sorts of short-term creditors. Ideally we'd like to see this reduce as that would mean fewer obligations bearing risks.
Our Take On MTU Aero Engines' 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 MTU Aero Engines. In light of this, the stock has only gained 27% over the last five years. Therefore we'd recommend looking further into this stock to confirm if it has the makings of a good investment.
On a final note, we've found 1 warning sign for MTU Aero Engines that we think you should be aware of.
While MTU Aero Engines 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.
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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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