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. With that in mind, we've noticed some promising trends at Parkson Retail Group (HKG:3368) so let's look a bit deeper.
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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Parkson Retail Group:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.057 = CN¥493m ÷ (CN¥11b - CN¥2.5b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2025).
Thus, Parkson Retail Group has an ROCE of 5.7%. On its own that's a low return on capital but it's in line with the industry's average returns of 6.1%.
See our latest analysis for Parkson Retail Group
Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Parkson Retail Group's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you're interested in investigating Parkson Retail Group's past further, check out this free graph covering Parkson Retail Group's past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
You'd find it hard not to be impressed with the ROCE trend at Parkson Retail Group. We found that the returns on capital employed over the last five years have risen by 170%. That's a very favorable trend because this means that the company is earning more per dollar of capital that's being employed. In regards to capital employed, Parkson Retail Group appears to been achieving more with less, since the business is using 21% less capital to run its operation. If this trend continues, the business might be getting more efficient but it's shrinking in terms of total assets.
In summary, it's great to see that Parkson Retail Group has been able to turn things around and earn higher returns on lower amounts of capital. Investors may not be impressed by the favorable underlying trends yet because over the last five years the stock has only returned 5.9% to shareholders. So exploring more about this stock could uncover a good opportunity, if the valuation and other metrics stack up.
Like most companies, Parkson Retail Group does come with some risks, and we've found 2 warning signs that you should be aware of.
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.
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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.