In This Article:
Today we'll evaluate Repsol, S.A. (BME:REP) to determine whether it could have potential as an investment idea. In particular, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), as that can give us insight into how profitably the company is able to employ capital in its business.
Firstly, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Then we'll compare its ROCE to similar companies. Finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE.
What is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?
ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. In general, businesses with a higher ROCE are usually better quality. In brief, it is a useful tool, but it is not without drawbacks. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'.
So, How Do We Calculate ROCE?
Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
Or for Repsol:
0.048 = €2.4b ÷ (€64b - €14b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)
Therefore, Repsol has an ROCE of 4.8%.
View our latest analysis for Repsol
Does Repsol Have A Good ROCE?
ROCE can be useful when making comparisons, such as between similar companies. In this analysis, Repsol's ROCE appears meaningfully below the 9.6% average reported by the Oil and Gas industry. This performance could be negative if sustained, as it suggests the business may underperform its industry. Setting aside the industry comparison for now, Repsol's ROCE is mediocre in absolute terms, considering the risk of investing in stocks versus the safety of a bank account. Readers may find more attractive investment prospects elsewhere.
Repsol reported an ROCE of 4.8% -- better than 3 years ago, when the company didn't make a profit. That implies the business has been improving. You can see in the image below how Repsol's ROCE compares to its industry. Click to see more on past growth.
It is important to remember that ROCE shows past performance, and is not necessarily predictive. Companies in cyclical industries can be difficult to understand using ROCE, as returns typically look high during boom times, and low during busts. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. Given the industry it operates in, Repsol could be considered cyclical. Future performance is what matters, and you can see analyst predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.