TSE:CCO), the trends above didn’t look too great.” data-reactid=”28″>If you’re looking at a mature business that’s past the growth phase, what are some of the underlying trends that pop up? 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. This combination can tell you that not only is the company investing less, it’s earning less on what it does invest. So after we looked into Cameco (TSE:CCO), the trends above didn’t look too great.
What is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?
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 Cameco:
View our latest analysis for Cameco ” data-reactid=”38″>View our latest analysis for Cameco
report for Cameco.” data-reactid=”51″>Above you can see how the current ROCE for Cameco compares to its prior returns on capital, but there’s only so much you can tell from the past. If you’d like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for Cameco.
What Does the ROCE Trend For Cameco Tell Us?
In terms of Cameco’s historical ROCE movements, the trend doesn’t inspire confidence. Unfortunately the returns on capital have diminished from the 5.2% that they were earning five years ago. On top of that, it’s worth noting that the amount of capital employed within the business has remained relatively steady. This combination can be indicative of a mature business that still has areas to deploy capital, but the returns received aren’t as high due potentially to new competition or smaller margins. If these trends continue, we wouldn’t expect Cameco to turn into a multi-bagger.
The Key Takeaway
In the end, the trend of lower returns on the same amount of capital isn’t typically an indication that we’re looking at a growth stock. Long term shareholders who’ve owned the stock over the last five years have experienced a 21% depreciation in their investment, so it appears the market might not like these trends either. That being the case, unless the underlying trends revert to a more positive trajectory, we’d consider looking elsewhere.
2 warning signs for Cameco that you might be interested in.” data-reactid=”56″>Cameco does have some risks though, and we’ve spotted 2 warning signs for Cameco that you might be interested in.
list here.” data-reactid=”57″>While Cameco 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.
Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected].” data-reactid=”58″>This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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