There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think Varex Imaging (NASDAQ:VREX) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

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 Varex Imaging:

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

0.033 = US$39m ÷ (US$1.3b - US$151m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to January 2025).

Thus, Varex Imaging has an ROCE of 3.3%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Medical Equipment industry average of 10%.

Check out our latest analysis for Varex Imaging

Above you can see how the current ROCE for Varex Imaging compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering Varex Imaging for free.

The Trend Of ROCE

In terms of Varex Imaging's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 6.2% over the last five years. However it looks like Varex Imaging might be reinvesting for long term growth because while capital employed has increased, the company's sales haven't changed much in the last 12 months. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

In Conclusion...

Bringing it all together, while we're somewhat encouraged by Varex Imaging's reinvestment in its own business, we're aware that returns are shrinking. And investors appear hesitant that the trends will pick up because the stock has fallen 38% in the last five years. Therefore based on the analysis done in this article, we don't think Varex Imaging has the makings of a multi-bagger.

One more thing to note, we've identified 1 warning sign with Varex Imaging and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

While Varex Imaging 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.