If we're looking to avoid a business that is in decline, what are the trends that can warn us ahead of time? Typically, we'll see the trend of both return on capital employed (ROCE) declining and this usually coincides with a decreasing amount of capital employed. This indicates the company is producing less profit from its investments and its total assets are decreasing. In light of that, from a first glance at Leggett & Platt (NYSE:LEG), we've spotted some signs that it could be struggling, so let's investigate.

Understanding 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. To calculate this metric for Leggett & Platt, this is the formula:

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

0.087 = US$297m ÷ (US$4.6b - US$1.2b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2024).

So, Leggett & Platt has an ROCE of 8.7%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Consumer Durables industry average of 15%.

In the above chart we have measured Leggett & Platt'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 Leggett & Platt .

What Does the ROCE Trend For Leggett & Platt Tell Us?

There is reason to be cautious about Leggett & Platt, given the returns are trending downwards. To be more specific, the ROCE was 11% five years ago, but since then it has dropped noticeably. Meanwhile, capital employed in the business has stayed roughly the flat over the period. Companies that exhibit these attributes tend to not be shrinking, but they can be mature and facing pressure on their margins from competition. If these trends continue, we wouldn't expect Leggett & Platt to turn into a multi-bagger.

The Bottom Line

In summary, it's unfortunate that Leggett & Platt is generating lower returns from the same amount of capital. Investors haven't taken kindly to these developments, since the stock has declined 58% from where it was five years ago. That being the case, unless the underlying trends revert to a more positive trajectory, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

Leggett & Platt does come with some risks though, we found 2 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 1 of those is significant...

While Leggett & Platt 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.