ROIC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROC %. Noodles's annualized return on invested capital (ROIC %) for the quarter that ended in Mar. 2026 was 2.88%.
As of today (2026-06-24), Noodles's WACC % is 6.45%. Noodles's ROIC % is 0.53% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Noodles earns returns that do not match up to its cost of capital. It will destroy value as it grows.
Noodles (NAS:NDLS) ROIC % Explanation
ROIC % measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business. It is also called ROC %. 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 ROIC % 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, Noodles's WACC % is 6.45%. Noodles's ROIC % is 0.53% (calculated using TTM income statement data).
Noodles 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 %, ROIC % 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.
Noodles ROIC % Related Terms
Noodles ROIC % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for Noodles's ROIC % 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.
For the Restaurants subindustry, Noodles's ROIC %, along with its competitors' market caps and ROIC % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Noodles ROIC % vs Restaurants Industry
For the Restaurants industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Noodles's ROIC % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Noodles's ROIC % falls into.
Note:
The Operating Income data used here is four times the quarterly (Mar. 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.
Noodles (NDLS) has a ROIC % of 2.88% as of Mar. 2026. Return on invested capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period invested capital. View historical data on Noodles and its competitors.
Is Noodles' ROIC % too high?
Noodles' current ROIC % is 2.88%. The Restaurants industry median ROIC % is 4.21. Noodles' value of 2.88% is 31.6% below this industry median. Overall, Noodles has a GF Score™ of 57/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Noodles' ROIC % compare to THCH and BDL?
Noodles' ROIC % of 2.88% can be compared against companies in the Restaurants industry. The industry median ROIC % is 4.21. Noodles' value of 2.88% is 31.6% 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 ROIC % for a Restaurants company?
The median ROIC % among Restaurants companies is 4.21, based on 359 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a ROIC % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, ROIC % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Noodles's current ROIC % of 2.88% is 31.6% 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 ROIC % mean?
A high ROIC % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Return on invested capital is the ratio of current-period net income to average two-period invested capital. View historical data on Noodles and its competitors. For the Restaurants industry, the median ROIC % is 4.21 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Noodles's current ROIC % is 2.88%. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Noodles stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Noodles (NDLS) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $10.68, compared to a current price of $14.97 — trading 40.2% above its estimated fair value. The current ROIC % is 2.88% and 31.6% below the Restaurants industry median of 4.21. Noodles' overall GF Score™ is 57/100 with 9 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is ROIC % calculated?
ROIC % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Noodles (NDLS), the current ROIC % is 2.88% as of Mar. 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 Noodles (NDLS) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Noodles stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $14.97 is trading 40.2% above its estimated GF Value™ of $10.68.
GuruFocus considers Noodles to be Significantly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for NDLS:
ROIC %: 2.88%
GF Value™: $10.68 vs. price of $14.97 (40.2% above fair value)
Industry Position: 31.6% below the Restaurants median
No single metric tells the full story. See the NDLS stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Noodles & Co is a restaurant concept offering lunch and dinner within the fast-casual segment of the restaurant industry. The company's menu includes a variety of cooked-to-order dishes, including noodles and pasta, soups, salads and appetizers. The company also provides dining, pick-up and delivery services. It is focused on offering customers flavorful, cooked-to-order dishes in a warm and welcoming environment at an attractive value. It has approximately 340 company-owned restaurants and 83 franchise restaurants in 31 states.
57GF Score
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