If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base 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. So on that note, Elopak (OB:ELO) looks quite promising in regards to its trends of return on capital.
For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Elopak, this is the formula:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.14 = €105m ÷ (€1.1b - €321m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2025).
Thus, Elopak has an ROCE of 14%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 8.8% generated by the Packaging industry.
View our latest analysis for Elopak
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Elopak 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 Elopak .
We like the trends that we're seeing from Elopak. The data shows that returns on capital have increased substantially over the last five years to 14%. Basically the business is earning more per dollar of capital invested and in addition to that, 49% more capital is being employed now too. So we're very much inspired by what we're seeing at Elopak thanks to its ability to profitably reinvest capital.
A company that is growing its returns on capital and can consistently reinvest in itself is a highly sought after trait, and that's what Elopak has. And with the stock having performed exceptionally well over the last three years, these patterns are being accounted for by investors. Therefore, we think it would be worth your time to check if these trends are going to continue.
Like most companies, Elopak does come with some risks, and we've found 1 warning sign that you should be aware of.
While Elopak isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.
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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.