09-02-2025
Santova (JSE:SNV) Has More To Do To Multiply In Value Going Forward
If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look for? Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. With that in mind, the ROCE of Santova (JSE:SNV) looks decent, right now, so lets see what the trend of returns can tell us.
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 Santova is:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.16 = R193m ÷ (R1.9b - R689m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to August 2024).
So, Santova has an ROCE of 16%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 8.3% generated by the Logistics industry.
See our latest analysis for Santova
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Santova 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 analyst report for Santova .
While the returns on capital are good, they haven't moved much. The company has consistently earned 16% for the last five years, and the capital employed within the business has risen 97% in that time. 16% is a pretty standard return, and it provides some comfort knowing that Santova has consistently earned this amount. Stable returns in this ballpark can be unexciting, but if they can be maintained over the long run, they often provide nice rewards to shareholders.
The main thing to remember is that Santova has proven its ability to continually reinvest at respectable rates of return. And long term investors would be thrilled with the 282% return they've received over the last five years. So while the positive underlying trends may be accounted for by investors, we still think this stock is worth looking into further.
One more thing, we've spotted 1 warning sign facing Santova that you might find interesting.
If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.
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