Did you know there are some financial metrics that can provide clues of a potential multi-bagger?  Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed.  This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns.    So when we looked at the ROCE trend of Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO) we really liked what we saw.    

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

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 Tractor Supply:

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

0.21 = US$1.5b ÷ (US$9.6b - US$2.5b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

So, Tractor Supply has an ROCE of 21%. In absolute terms that's a great return and it's even better than the Specialty Retail industry average of 13%.  

NasdaqGS:TSCO Return on Capital Employed June 4th 2024

In the above chart we have measured Tractor Supply's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important.  If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free analyst report for Tractor Supply .

How Are Returns Trending?

Investors would be pleased with what's happening at Tractor Supply.   The numbers show that in the last  five years, the returns generated on capital employed have grown considerably to 21%.  The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 71%.   The increasing returns on a growing amount of capital is common amongst multi-baggers and that's why we're impressed.  

The Key Takeaway

To sum it up, Tractor Supply has proven it can reinvest in the business and generate higher returns on that capital employed, which is terrific.       Since the stock has returned a staggering 170% to shareholders over the last  five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes.   Therefore, we think it would be worth your time to check if these trends are going to continue.  

One more thing to note, we've identified   1 warning sign with Tractor Supply and understanding this should be part of your investment process.  

If you'd like to see other companies earning high returns, check out our free list of companies earning high returns with solid balance sheets 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.