Shares of Petco Health and Wellness Company (NASDAQ: WOOF) plunged 5.30% in pre-market trading on Friday, as investors reacted to reports of the company's concerning financial performance. The pet retailer's stock has been under pressure due to a combination of declining returns and reduced capital utilization.

According to a recent analysis, Petco's Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) has fallen to a mere 0.2%, significantly underperforming the Specialty Retail industry average of 13%. This marks a substantial decline from the company's ROCE of 2.7% five years ago. Adding to investors' worries, Petco is now utilizing 24% less capital in its business operations compared to previous years.

The deteriorating financial metrics paint a troubling picture for Petco's future prospects. With the company struggling to generate returns on its investments and reducing its capital base, market participants appear to be reevaluating their positions. As Petco faces these challenges, it remains to be seen how management will address these issues and attempt to reverse the negative trend in the company's financial performance.