The Value of Return on Invested Capital

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) and Free Cash Flow (FCF) in identifying sustainable growth investments, particularly through ETFs like the VictoryShares Free Cash Flow Growth ETF (GFLW) [1][2] Group 1: Understanding ROIC and FCF - ROIC measures a company's efficiency in generating profits from invested capital, while FCF indicates the cash available after covering operating expenses and capital expenditures [2] - High ROIC companies can grow sustainably without relying on external capital, unlike those that overextend their ROIC and depend on stock issuance or debt [4] Group 2: GFLW ETF Strategy - GFLW aims to track the Victory Free Cash Flow Growth Index, which identifies companies that can grow profitably by reinvesting capital at high rates of return [5] - The selection process begins with a universe of 1,000 companies, excluding financials and real estate, and screens for positive FCF growth over five years [6] - Companies are ranked based on FCF relative to ROIC, narrowing the selection to the top 150 businesses with sustainable growth potential [7] Group 3: Final Selection and Portfolio Management - The methodology further evaluates future growth prospects to select the top 100 companies for durable growth, with holdings weighted based on FCF size and momentum [8] - By linking ROIC and FCF, the Index provides targeted exposure to companies that generate strong cash flows and grow shareholder value over the long term [9]