ROC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROIC %. Associated British Foods's annualized return on capital (ROC %) for the quarter that ended in Feb. 2026 was 5.49%.
As of today (2026-06-24), Associated British Foods's WACC % is 8.46%. Associated British Foods's ROC % is 6.52% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Associated British Foods earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) ROC % Explanation
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, Associated British Foods's WACC % is 8.46%. Associated British Foods's ROC % is 6.52% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Associated British Foods 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.
* 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 two times the semi-annual (Feb. 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.
Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) has a ROC % of 5.49% as of Feb. 2026. Return on capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period capital. View historical data on Associated British Foods and its competitors.
Is Associated British Foods' ROC % too high?
Associated British Foods' current ROC % is 5.49%. The Consumer Packaged Goods industry median ROC % is 5.16. Associated British Foods' value of 5.49% is 6.4% above this industry median. Overall, Associated British Foods has a GF Score™ of 83/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Associated British Foods' ROC % compare to KHC and GIS?
Associated British Foods' ROC % of 5.49% can be compared against companies in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. The industry median ROC % is 5.16. Associated British Foods' value of 5.49% is 6.4% above 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 Consumer Packaged Goods company?
The median ROC % among Consumer Packaged Goods companies is 5.16, based on 1,948 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. Associated British Foods's current ROC % of 5.49% is 6.4% above 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 Associated British Foods and its competitors. For the Consumer Packaged Goods industry, the median ROC % is 5.16 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Associated British Foods's current ROC % is 5.49%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Associated British Foods stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is £22.57, compared to a current price of £18.85 — trading 16.5% below its estimated fair value. The current ROC % is 5.49% and 6.4% above the Consumer Packaged Goods industry median of 5.16. Associated British Foods' overall GF Score™ is 83/100 with 2 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 Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF), the current ROC % is 5.49% as of Feb. 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 Associated British Foods (LSE:ABF) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Associated British Foods stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of £18.85 is trading 16.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of £22.57.
GuruFocus considers Associated British Foods to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for LSE:ABF:
ROC %: 5.49%
GF Value™: £22.57 vs. price of £18.85 (16.5% below fair value)
Industry Position: 6.4% above the Consumer Packaged Goods median
No single metric tells the full story. See the LSE:ABF stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Associated British Foods is a diversified international food, ingredients, and retail group with 138,000 employees and operations in 56 countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. The group sells branded groceries, grows and processes sugar, supplies farmers with crop input and animal feed, and runs the multinational Primark clothing retail chain. It also supplies ingredients like bakers' yeast, enzymes, lipids, and cereal specialties. In fiscal 2025, approximately 36% of sales came from the UK, and Primark accounted for around 60% of operating profit.On April 21, 2026, ABF announced it plans to separate Primark and the food businesses. Subject to approvals, the demerger is expected to become effective at the end of 2027.
83GF Score
Get the complete analysis for LSE:ABF
ROC % is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
Quick Browse
Personalize
Premium Gurus 
Create New Portfolio
LSE:ABF has been successfully added to your 
