Updated on October 15th, 2025 by Bob Ciura
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is a crucial financial metric that investors can leverage in their research process. Understanding ROIC and utilizing it to identify high-quality stocks can significantly enhance investment strategies.
To assist investors, we conducted a stock screen focusing on the highest ROIC stocks within the S&P 500. You can download a free copy of the top 100 stocks with the highest ROIC, along with essential financial metrics such as dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios, by clicking the link below:
Utilizing ROIC enables investors to filter for businesses that effectively generate returns on capital. This article will delve into the significance of ROIC for investors and present the top 10 highest ROIC stocks currently available.
Table Of Contents
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What Is ROIC?
In simple terms, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) is a financial ratio that indicates a company’s efficiency in allocating capital. The standard formula for calculating ROIC involves dividing a company’s after-tax net operating profit by the total of its debt and equity capital.
Once calculated, ROIC is compared against a company’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC). If WACC is not readily available, it can be calculated by averaging the costs of a company’s debt and equity.
The cost of debt is determined by averaging the yield to maturity on a company’s outstanding debt, which is publicly reported. The cost of equity is typically calculated using the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).
Investors prefer to see ROIC exceed WACC, indicating that the business is successfully investing its capital to generate profitable returns, thereby creating economic value.
Generally, stocks with the highest ROIC demonstrate superior capital allocation, making them attractive investment options. Below, we rank the 10 stocks with the highest ROIC.
The Top 10 Highest ROIC Stocks
The following stocks represent the highest ROIC in the Sure Analysis Research Database, ranked from lowest to highest ROIC:
High ROIC Stock #10: Yum Brands Inc. (YUM)
- Return on Invested Capital: 44.6%
Yum Brands operates popular chains like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell across over 155 countries, with more than 59,000 restaurants. KFC alone contributes about half of the company’s total revenue.
In Q2 2025, Yum Brands reported a 4% sales increase year-over-year, driven by growth at Taco Bell and KFC. Digital sales reached approximately $9 billion, accounting for 57% of total sales.
High ROIC Stock #9: TJX Companies (TJX)
- Return on Invested Capital: 46.9%
TJX is a leading off-price retailer with over 5,000 stores across nine countries. In Q2 2026, net sales rose 6.9% year-over-year, with growth across all divisions.
High ROIC Stock #8: Altria Group (MO)
- Return on Invested Capital: 47.5%
Altria, known for brands like Marlboro, is transitioning to meet changing consumer preferences. In Q2 2025, adjusted earnings per share rose 8.3% year-over-year, despite a decline in domestic cigarette volumes.
High ROIC Stock #7: Starbucks Corporation (SBUX)
- Return on Invested Capital: 51.2%
Starbucks has expanded to over 39,000 stores globally. In Q3 2025, comparable store sales declined 2%, but management remains optimistic about future growth.
High ROIC Stock #6: Mastercard Inc. (MA)
- Return on Invested Capital: 52.9%
Mastercard is a leader in electronic payments, reporting a 15.7% revenue growth in Q2 2025. The company continues to expand its global reach.
High ROIC Stock #5: Apple, Inc. (AAPL)
- Return on Invested Capital: 54.1%
Apple reported a 10% sales increase in Q3 2025, driven by growth in iPhone and services. The company continues to innovate and expand its market presence.
High ROIC Stock #4: Domino’s Pizza Inc. (DPZ)
- Return on Invested Capital: 59.3%
Domino’s is the largest pizza company globally, with over 21,000 stores. In Q2 2025, U.S. same-store sales grew 3.4%.
High ROIC Stock #3: McKesson Corporation (MCK)
- Return on Invested Capital: 64.3%
McKesson has evolved into a major player in pharmaceutical distribution, reporting strong revenue growth in Q1 2025.
High ROIC Stock #2: Otis Worldwide (OTIS)
- Return on Invested Capital: 69.0%
Otis specializes in elevator and escalator manufacturing. Despite a slight dip in earnings, the company maintains a robust backlog.
High ROIC Stock #1: Cardinal Health (CAH)
- Return on Invested Capital: 71.6%
Cardinal Health serves thousands of pharmacies and hospitals, reporting steady revenue growth in Q4 2025.
Further Reading
If you’re interested in identifying high-quality dividend growth stocks for long-term investment, the Sure Dividend databases will be beneficial.
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