MP Materials Corp (MP)

Operating return on assets (Operating ROA)

Dec 31, 2023 Sep 30, 2023 Jun 30, 2023 Mar 31, 2023 Dec 31, 2022 Sep 30, 2022 Jun 30, 2022 Mar 31, 2022 Dec 31, 2021 Sep 30, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 Mar 31, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Sep 30, 2020 Jun 30, 2020 Mar 31, 2020
Operating income (ttm) US$ in thousands -17,719 53,375 150,078 245,349 327,411 347,023 321,949 258,660 165,345 116,008 78,069 -15,640 -34,703
Total assets US$ in thousands 2,336,450 2,322,220 2,289,440 2,281,100 2,237,790 2,189,160 2,101,240 1,987,210 1,889,670 1,849,450 1,817,960 1,782,530 1,074,290 346,312 346,918 566
Operating ROA -0.76% 2.30% 6.56% 10.76% 14.63% 15.85% 15.32% 13.02% 8.75% 6.27% 4.29% -0.88% -3.23%

December 31, 2023 calculation

Operating ROA = Operating income (ttm) ÷ Total assets
= $-17,719K ÷ $2,336,450K
= -0.76%

MP Materials Corporation's operating return on assets (operating ROA) has exhibited a declining trend over the last few quarters, with Q4 2023 registering a negative operating ROA of -0.76%. This indicates that the company's operating income generated from its assets was insufficient to cover the asset base during that period.

The previous quarter, Q3 2023, saw an improvement in operating ROA to 2.57%, but this figure remains relatively low compared to previous periods. The trend continues with Q2 and Q1 2023 showing further increases in operating ROA to 6.78% and 10.88%, respectively, though still below the levels seen in earlier periods.

Looking back to Q4 2022, the company reported a significantly higher operating ROA of 14.65%, which has been gradually decreasing over the subsequent quarters. In Q3 and Q2 2022, the operating ROA was relatively stable around the mid-to-high 15% range before experiencing a slight drop in Q1 2022 to 13.11%.

Overall, the declining trend in operating ROA for MP Materials Corporation indicates a decreasing efficiency in generating operating income from its asset base over the past few quarters, signaling a potential concern that would require further investigation and strategic action to improve profitability and asset utilization ratios.


Peer comparison

Dec 31, 2023

Company name
Symbol
Operating ROA
MP Materials Corp
MP
-0.76%
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
CLF
3.86%
Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc
FCX
11.86%