Do Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India's (NSE:JCHAC) Earnings Warrant Your Attention?

It's only natural that many investors, especially those who are new to the game, prefer to buy shares in 'sexy' stocks with a good story, even if those businesses lose money. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes.

In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies like Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India (NSE:JCHAC), which has not only revenues, but also profits. While that doesn't make the shares worth buying at any price, you can't deny that successful capitalism requires profit, eventually. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

Check out our latest analysis for Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India

How Fast Is Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Growing?

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so share price follows earnings per share (EPS) eventually. It's no surprise, then, that I like to invest in companies with EPS growth. Over the last three years, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India has grown EPS by 7.8% per year. While that sort of growth rate isn't amazing, it does show the business is growing.

I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 13% to ₹24b. That's progress.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

While we live in the present moment at all times, there's no doubt in my mind that the future matters more than the past. So why not check this interactive chart depicting future EPS estimates, for Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India?

Are Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

I always like to check up on CEO compensation, because I think that reasonable pay levels, around or below the median, can be a sign that shareholder interests are well considered. For companies with market capitalizations between ₹28b and ₹114b, like Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India, the median CEO pay is around ₹29m.

Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India offered total compensation worth ₹18.5m to its CEO in the year to March 2019. That seems pretty reasonable, especially given its below the median for similar sized companies. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when its reasonable that does give me a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally.

Should You Add Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India To Your Watchlist?

One positive for Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. Not only that, but the CEO is paid quite reasonably, which makes me feel more trusting of the board of directors. So all in all I think it's worth at least considering for your watchlist. Another important measure of business quality not discussed here, is return on equity (ROE). Click on this link to see how Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India shapes up to industry peers, when it comes to ROE.

You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.

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