Return on capital employed (ROCE) is a financial ratio used to measure a company’s profitability in relation to the capital it uses. It is a key determinant of a company’s financial performance, and can be calculated by dividing the company’s operating profit by its total capital employed. ROCE is closely related to the return on invested capital (ROIC) ratio, but the former refers to the profitability of all capital employed while the latter focuses on the profitability of invested capital only.

ROCE is a comprehensive measure of a company’s financial health and is widely used by investors and analysts to assess whether a company is able to generate returns on its capital, and the efficiency of its operations. A higher ROCE ratio indicates a higher level of profitability and suggests that the company is using its capital more effectively than those with lower ROCE ratios. For comparison, investors and analysts typically compare the current ROCE to that of its competitors in the same industry in order to gain a better understanding of the company's relative performance.

In addition to assessing a company’s current performance, investors can use the ROCE to analyze its potential to generate returns in the future. It provides important insights into the potential future profitability of a company and how it may be affected by changes in capital structure. ROCE can also be a useful metric for measuring the impact of any capital investments on a company’s returns, and can help investors prioritize investments.

In summary, Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is an essential metric for assessing and comparing a company’s financial performance and potential for future returns. It provides investors with an invaluable insight into the efficiency of the capital being used by a company and can be used to assess the potential impact of future investments. By comparing the ROCE ratios of various companies, investors can gain a comprehensive picture of the company’s relative profitability and the profitability of its peers.