It is hard to get excited after looking at Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's (SHSE:688401) recent performance, when its stock has declined 8.9% over the past week. But if you pay close attention, you might gather that its strong financials could mean that the stock could potentially see an increase in value in the long-term, given how markets usually reward companies with good financial health. In this article, we decided to focus on Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's ROE.

Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors' money. Simply put, it is used to assess the profitability of a company in relation to its equity capital.

View our latest analysis for Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making is:

9.5% = CN¥139m ÷ CN¥1.5b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that for every CN¥1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated CN¥0.09 in profit.

Why Is ROE Important For Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or "retains" for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that don't share these attributes.

Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's Earnings Growth And 9.5% ROE

On the face of it, Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's ROE is not much to talk about. Although a closer study shows that the company's ROE is higher than the industry average of 6.6% which we definitely can't overlook. Especially when you consider Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's exceptional 78% net income growth over the past five years. That being said, the company does have a slightly low ROE to begin with, just that it is higher than the industry average. Therefore, the growth in earnings could also be the result of other factors. E.g the company has a low payout ratio or could belong to a high growth industry.

We then compared Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's net income growth with the industry and we're pleased to see that the company's growth figure is higher when compared with the industry which has a growth rate of 11% in the same 5-year period.

Earnings growth is a huge factor in stock valuation. It's important for an investor to know whether the market has priced in the company's expected earnings growth (or decline). By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. Is Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making fairly valued compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide.

Is Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making Making Efficient Use Of Its Profits?

Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's ' three-year median payout ratio is on the lower side at 20% implying that it is retaining a higher percentage (80%) of its profits. So it seems like the management is reinvesting profits heavily to grow its business and this reflects in its earnings growth number.

Based on the latest analysts' estimates, we found that the company's future payout ratio over the next three years is expected to hold steady at 20%. However, Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's ROE is predicted to rise to 15% despite there being no anticipated change in its payout ratio.

Conclusion

On the whole, we feel that Shenzhen Newway Photomask Making's performance has been quite good. Specifically, we like that it has been reinvesting a high portion of its profits at a moderate rate of return, resulting in earnings expansion. That being so, a study of the latest analyst forecasts show that the company is expected to see a slowdown in its future earnings growth. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more.

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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.