Ignoring the stock price of a company, what are the underlying trends that tell us a business is past the growth phase? A business that's potentially in decline often shows two trends, a return on capital employed (ROCE) that's declining, and a base of capital employed that's also declining. Basically the company is earning less on its investments and it is also reducing its total assets. So after we looked into Budweiser Brewing Company APAC (HKG:1876), the trends above didn't look too great.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

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 Budweiser Brewing Company APAC, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.10 = US$1.2b ÷ (US$15b - US$4.2b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2024).

Therefore, Budweiser Brewing Company APAC has an ROCE of 10%. In absolute terms, that's a pretty normal return, and it's somewhat close to the Beverage industry average of 12%.

View our latest analysis for Budweiser Brewing Company APAC

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Budweiser Brewing Company APAC compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Budweiser Brewing Company APAC .

What Can We Tell From Budweiser Brewing Company APAC's ROCE Trend?

In terms of Budweiser Brewing Company APAC's historical ROCE movements, the trend doesn't inspire confidence. Unfortunately the returns on capital have diminished from the 13% that they were earning five years ago. And on the capital employed front, the business is utilizing roughly the same amount of capital as it was back then. Companies that exhibit these attributes tend to not be shrinking, but they can be mature and facing pressure on their margins from competition. If these trends continue, we wouldn't expect Budweiser Brewing Company APAC to turn into a multi-bagger.

Our Take On Budweiser Brewing Company APAC's ROCE

In summary, it's unfortunate that Budweiser Brewing Company APAC is generating lower returns from the same amount of capital. Unsurprisingly then, the stock has dived 72% over the last five years, so investors are recognizing these changes and don't like the company's prospects. That being the case, unless the underlying trends revert to a more positive trajectory, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

While Budweiser Brewing Company APAC doesn't shine too bright in this respect, it's still worth seeing if the company is trading at attractive prices. You can find that out with our FREE intrinsic value estimation for 1876 on our platform.

While Budweiser Brewing Company APAC 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.

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.