If we want to find a stock that could multiply over the long term, what are the underlying trends we should look 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. 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, we've noticed some promising trends at Pacific Basin Shipping (HKG:2343) so let's look a bit deeper.

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

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Pacific Basin Shipping:

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

0.05 = US$104m ÷ (US$2.4b - US$335m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2024).

Therefore, Pacific Basin Shipping has an ROCE of 5.0%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Shipping industry average of 7.4%.

See our latest analysis for Pacific Basin Shipping

In the above chart we have measured Pacific Basin Shipping's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Pacific Basin Shipping .

What Does the ROCE Trend For Pacific Basin Shipping Tell Us?

Pacific Basin Shipping has not disappointed with their ROCE growth. Looking at the data, we can see that even though capital employed in the business has remained relatively flat, the ROCE generated has risen by 63% over the last five years. Basically the business is generating higher returns from the same amount of capital and that is proof that there are improvements in the company's efficiencies. The company is doing well in that sense, and it's worth investigating what the management team has planned for long term growth prospects.

What We Can Learn From Pacific Basin Shipping's ROCE

In summary, we're delighted to see that Pacific Basin Shipping has been able to increase efficiencies and earn higher rates of return on the same amount of capital. And with a respectable 96% awarded to those who held the stock over the last five years, you could argue that these developments are starting to get the attention they deserve. In light of that, we think it's worth looking further into this stock because if Pacific Basin Shipping can keep these trends up, it could have a bright future ahead.

One more thing to note, we've identified 2 warning signs with Pacific Basin Shipping and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

While Pacific Basin Shipping isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

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.