Returns On Capital Signal Tricky Times Ahead For Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad (KLSE:MELATI)
There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base 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. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad (KLSE:MELATI) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.
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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. To calculate this metric for Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad, this is the formula:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.018 = RM5.6m ÷ (RM407m - RM100m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to November 2024).
So, Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad has an ROCE of 1.8%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Construction industry average of 10.0%.
Check out our latest analysis for Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad
Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad's past further, check out this free graph covering Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad's past earnings, revenue and cash flow .
On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad doesn't inspire confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 4.3%, but since then they've fallen to 1.8%. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se.
On a side note, Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad has done well to pay down its current liabilities to 25% of total assets. That could partly explain why the ROCE has dropped. What's more, this can reduce some aspects of risk to the business because now the company's suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of its operations. Since the business is basically funding more of its operations with it's own money, you could argue this has made the business less efficient at generating ROCE.
In summary, we're somewhat concerned by Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad's diminishing returns on increasing amounts of capital. Despite the concerning underlying trends, the stock has actually gained 40% over the last five years, so it might be that the investors are expecting the trends to reverse. Regardless, we don't like the trends as they are and if they persist, we think you might find better investments elsewhere.
If you want to know some of the risks facing Melati Ehsan Holdings Berhad we've found 2 warning signs (1 is significant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.
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.

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