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. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. Having said that, from a first glance at Custom Truck One Source (NYSE:CTOS) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper look.
We've discovered 1 warning sign about Custom Truck One Source. View them for free.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 Custom Truck One Source:
Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) ÷ (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)
0.045 = US$114m ÷ (US$3.5b - US$1.0b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2025).
Therefore, Custom Truck One Source has an ROCE of 4.5%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Trade Distributors industry average of 11%.
See our latest analysis for Custom Truck One Source
Above you can see how the current ROCE for Custom Truck One Source 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 analyst report for Custom Truck One Source .
How Are Returns Trending?
There are better returns on capital out there than what we're seeing at Custom Truck One Source. The company has consistently earned 4.5% for the last five years, and the capital employed within the business has risen 231% in that time. Given the company has increased the amount of capital employed, it appears the investments that have been made simply don't provide a high return on capital.
On another note, while the change in ROCE trend might not scream for attention, it's interesting that the current liabilities have actually gone up over the last five years. This is intriguing because if current liabilities hadn't increased to 29% of total assets, this reported ROCE would probably be less than4.5% because total capital employed would be higher.The 4.5% ROCE could be even lower if current liabilities weren't 29% of total assets, because the the formula would show a larger base of total capital employed. So while current liabilities isn't high right now, keep an eye out in case it increases further, because this can introduce some elements of risk.
In Conclusion...
In conclusion, Custom Truck One Source has been investing more capital into the business, but returns on that capital haven't increased. Since the stock has gained an impressive 49% over the last five years, investors must think there's better things to come. But if the trajectory of these underlying trends continue, we think the likelihood of it being a multi-bagger from here isn't high.
Custom Truck One Source does have some risks though, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Custom Truck One Source that you might be interested in.
While Custom Truck One Source isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.
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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.