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Paymentus Holdings (NYSE:PAY) Will Want To Turn Around Its Return Trends

If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. 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. In light of that, when we looked at Paymentus Holdings (NYSE:PAY) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Paymentus Holdings:

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

0.014 = US$5.8m ÷ (US$488m - US$83m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2022).

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Therefore, Paymentus Holdings has an ROCE of 1.4%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the IT industry average of 12%.

View our latest analysis for Paymentus Holdings

roce
roce

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Paymentus Holdings compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

What Does the ROCE Trend For Paymentus Holdings Tell Us?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Paymentus Holdings doesn't inspire confidence. Around two years ago the returns on capital were 24%, but since then they've fallen to 1.4%. However, given capital employed and revenue have both increased it appears that the business is currently pursuing growth, at the consequence of short term returns. And if the increased capital generates additional returns, the business, and thus shareholders, will benefit in the long run.

The Bottom Line

Even though returns on capital have fallen in the short term, we find it promising that revenue and capital employed have both increased for Paymentus Holdings. These growth trends haven't led to growth returns though, since the stock has fallen 50% over the last year. So we think it'd be worthwhile to look further into this stock given the trends look encouraging.

One more thing to note, we've identified 3 warning signs with Paymentus Holdings and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

While Paymentus Holdings 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.