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ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. Designer Brands's annualized return on capital (ROC %) for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 was 1.83%.
As of today (2026-08-10), Designer Brands's WACC % is 3.97%. Designer Brands's ROC % is 2.12% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Designer Brands earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. The reason book values of debt and equity are used is because the book values are the capital the company received when issuing the debt or receiving the equity investments.
There are four key components to this definition. The first is the use of operating income or EBIT rather than net income in the numerator. The second is the tax adjustment to this operating income or EBIT, computed as a hypothetical tax based on an effective or marginal tax rate. The third is the use of book values for invested capital, rather than market values. The final is the timing difference; the capital invested is from the end of the prior year whereas the operating income or EBIT is the current year's number.
Why is ROC % important?
Because it costs money to raise capital. A firm that generates higher returns on investment than it costs the company to raise the capital needed for that investment is earning excess returns. A firm that expects to continue generating positive excess returns on new investments in the future will see its value increase as growth increases, whereas a firm that earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital will destroy value as it grows.
As of today, Designer Brands's WACC % is 3.97%. Designer Brands's ROC % is 2.12% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Designer Brands earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Be Aware
Like ROE % and ROA %, ROC % is calculated with only 12 months of data. Fluctuations in the company's earnings or business cycles can affect the ratio drastically. It is important to look at the ratio from a long term perspective.
Designer Brands ROC % Related Terms
Designer Brands ROC % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Designer Brands's ROC % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Note:
The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Apr. 2026) data.
The tax rate is limited to between 0% and 100%.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Designer Brands (DBI) has a ROC % of 1.83% as of Apr. 2026. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on Designer Brands and its competitors.
Is Designer Brands' ROC % too high?
Designer Brands' current ROC % is 1.83%. The Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median ROC % is 3.11. Designer Brands' value of 1.83% is 41.2% below this industry median. Overall, Designer Brands has a GF Score™ of 71/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Designer Brands' ROC % compare to FWDI and RCKY?
Designer Brands' ROC % of 1.83% can be compared against companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry. The industry median ROC % is 3.11. Designer Brands' value of 1.83% is 41.2% below this benchmark. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good ROC % for a Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories company?
The median ROC % among Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies is 3.11, based on 1,043 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROC % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROC % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Designer Brands's current ROC % of 1.83% is 41.2% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high ROC % mean?
A high ROC % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on Designer Brands and its competitors. For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, the median ROC % is 3.11 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Designer Brands's current ROC % is 1.83%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Designer Brands stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Designer Brands (DBI) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $6.75, compared to a current price of $6.57 — trading 2.7% below its estimated fair value. The current ROC % is 1.83% and 41.2% below the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median of 3.11. Designer Brands' overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is ROC % calculated?
ROC % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Designer Brands (DBI), the current ROC % is 1.83% as of Apr. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Designer Brands (DBI) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Designer Brands stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $6.57 is trading 2.7% below its estimated GF Value™ of $6.75.
GuruFocus considers Designer Brands to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for DBI:
ROC %: 1.83%
GF Value™: $6.75 vs. price of $6.57 (2.7% below fair value)
Industry Position: 41.2% below the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories median
No single metric tells the full story. See the DBI stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Designer Brands Inc is a designer, producer, and retailer of footwear and accessories. The company operates in two reportable segments: the Retail segment and the Brand Portfolio segment. The Retail segment, which derives key revenue, operates the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse ("DSW") banner through its direct-to-consumer stores and e-commerce sites in the United States ("U.S.") and Canada, and the Shoe Co. and Rubino banners through its direct-to-consumer stores and e-commerce sites in Canada. The Brand Portfolio segment principally earns revenue from the wholesale of its exclusive and licensed brands to retailers, its Retail segment, and international distributors, and the sale of its Vince Camuto, Keds, and Topo brands through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites.
71GF Score
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