To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Firstly, we'd want to identify a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and then alongside that, an ever-increasing base of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)

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 New Jersey Resources:

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

0.071 = US$407m ÷ (US$6.5b - US$807m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Therefore, New Jersey Resources has an ROCE of 7.1%. On its own, that's a low figure but it's around the 6.5% average generated by the Gas Utilities industry.

See our latest analysis for New Jersey Resources

In the above chart we have measured New Jersey Resources' prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report for New Jersey Resources.

The Trend Of ROCE

The returns on capital haven't changed much for New Jersey Resources in recent years. The company has employed 69% more capital in the last five years, and the returns on that capital have remained stable at 7.1%. This poor ROCE doesn't inspire confidence right now, and with the increase in capital employed, it's evident that the business isn't deploying the funds into high return investments.

The Bottom Line On New Jersey Resources' ROCE

In conclusion, New Jersey Resources has been investing more capital into the business, but returns on that capital haven't increased. Unsurprisingly, the stock has only gained 21% over the last five years, which potentially indicates that investors are accounting for this going forward. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options.

If you'd like to know more about New Jersey Resources, we've spotted 2 warning signs, and 1 of them makes us a bit uncomfortable.

While New Jersey Resources 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.

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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.