We’re definitely into long term investing, but some companies are simply bad investments over any time frame. We don’t wish catastrophic capital loss on anyone. Spare a thought for those who held Pilot Energy Limited (ASX:PGY) for five whole years – as the share price tanked 91%. And it’s not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 22% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 60% in the last three months.
We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It’s a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it’s worth keeping in mind there’s more to life than money, anyway.
View our latest analysis for Pilot Energy
With just AU$756,785 worth of revenue in twelve months, we don’t think the market considers Pilot Energy to have proven its business plan. You have to wonder why venture capitalists aren’t funding it. As a result, we think it’s unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. For example, they may be hoping that Pilot Energy finds fossil fuels with an exploration program, before it runs out of money.
As a general rule, if a company doesn’t have much revenue, and it loses money, then it is a high risk investment. There is almost always a chance they will need to raise more capital, and their progress – and share price – will dictate how dilutive that is to current holders. While some companies like this go on to deliver on their plan, making good money for shareholders, many end in painful losses and eventual de-listing. It certainly is a dangerous place to invest, as Pilot Energy investors might realise.
Our data indicates that Pilot Energy had AU$357k more in total liabilities than it had cash, when it last reported in March 2019. That puts it in the highest risk category, according to our analysis. But with the share price diving 38% per year, over 5 years , it’s probably fair to say that some shareholders no longer believe the company will succeed. You can see in the image below, how Pilot Energy’s cash levels have changed over time (click to see the values). The image below shows how Pilot Energy’s balance sheet has changed over time.
In reality it’s hard to have much certainty when valuing a business that has neither revenue or profit. Would it bother you if insiders were selling the stock? It would bother me, that’s for sure. It only takes a moment for you to check whether we have identified any insider sales recently.
What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?
We’d be remiss not to mention the difference between Pilot Energy’s total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price return. The TSR attempts to capture the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested) as well as any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings offered to shareholders. Pilot Energy hasn’t been paying dividends, but its TSR of -87% exceeds its share price return of -91%, implying it has either spun-off a business, or raised capital at a discount; thereby providing additional value to shareholders.
A Different Perspective
While the broader market gained around 24% in the last year, Pilot Energy shareholders lost 22%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. However, the loss over the last year isn’t as bad as the 33% per annum loss investors have suffered over the last half decade. We’d need to see some sustained improvements in the key metrics before we could muster much enthusiasm. Shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.
If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.
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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