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Return on Average Capital Employed (ROACE)

Return on Average Capital Employed (ROACE) is a ratio designed to measure the profitability of a business relative to the amount of capital it has employed. It is used to gauge the overall efficiency in using capital by examining the amount of profit generated for every dollar of capital invested. In other words, it measures how effectively a company has used its investments in tangible assets such as buildings, equipment and inventory, as well as its investments in intangible assets such as customer loyalty and relationships.

The most basic formula for calculating ROACE is Net Profit After Tax Divided by (Total Assets Less Total Liabilities) Average. This calculation takes into account the average of a company’s total assets and total liabilities over a certain period, usually a year. This averages out the company’s ups and downs over time and gives a more accurate picture of its financial performance. The higher the ROACE, the more efficiently the company is utilizing its capital. A company with a low ROACE, in comparison, might face difficulties such as a lack of capital to invest effectively or a lack of reinvestment to maintain profits. Typically, an ROACE of less than 15 percent is considered to be below average, and a higher ROACE indicates better efficiency and utilization of capital employed.

ROACE can also be used from an investor perspective as it is considered a good measure of an investor’s return on a company’s shares. This measure can help determine the company’s ability to generate wealth over a period of time and can be used in valuation models to forecast future return on investments.

Overall, ROACE is an important financial ratio used to measure a company’s performance relative to its capital investments, both tangible and intangible. ROACE can be useful in evaluating the potential of an investment and can help investors better understand the long-term viability of a company. It can also be used to compare a company’s performance with that of its industry peers. By monitoring ROACE, a company can identify areas of potential improvement in efficiency and capitalize on opportunities to increase business success.

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