When a company starts a business, it requires capital. This capital consists of equity (i.e. the owner's contribution) and debt. The capital is required to buy assets such as plants and machinery, office and factory space, and other important assets to start and run a business. These assets generate cash flows and earnings. Since there is no such thing as a free lunch, capital invested also has a cost involved. This includes the cost of equity and cost of debt, which is interest cost. This is weighted in proportion to their share in the total capital structure which is known as weighted average cost of capital or WACC. Now, if you have to gauge company's performance, it makes sense to compare its WACC with the quantum of cash flows or earnings generated by the investment. This is the return on capital employed (ROCE). Now, why it is important to look at ROCE? Imagine a company's WACC is 14%, but earns a return on its capital of only 10%. What does this mean? Compani