To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding 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 Crane NXT (NYSE:CXT) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

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

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Crane NXT is:

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

0.14 = US$263m ÷ (US$2.4b - US$527m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2024).

So, Crane NXT has an ROCE of 14%. In absolute terms, that's a satisfactory return, but compared to the Electronic industry average of 10% it's much better.

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Crane NXT compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Crane NXT for free.

How Are Returns Trending?

There hasn't been much to report for Crane NXT's returns and its level of capital employed because both metrics have been steady for the past two years. This tells us the company isn't reinvesting in itself, so it's plausible that it's past the growth phase. With that in mind, unless investment picks up again in the future, we wouldn't expect Crane NXT to be a multi-bagger going forward.

The Key Takeaway

In summary, Crane NXT isn't compounding its earnings but is generating stable returns on the same amount of capital employed. And with the stock having returned a mere 1.4% in the last year to shareholders, you could argue that they're aware of these lackluster trends. Therefore, if you're looking for a multi-bagger, we'd propose looking at other options.

If you want to continue researching Crane NXT, you might be interested to know about the 1 warning sign that our analysis has discovered.

While Crane NXT isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.