Why Investors Should Run Towards Bouygues SA (EPA:EN)

When stocks are plummeting in price, it's hard to start buying into all the uncertainty. But a disciplined long term investor knows there's no better time to buy than right now. And I'm not talking about buying into speculative, high-risk stocks. I'm talking about the well-proven, robust track record Bouygues SA. Why? Size. Financial health. Proven performance.

See our latest analysis for Bouygues

Bouygues SA, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the construction, telecom, and media sectors in France and internationally. Formed in 1952, and headed by CEO Martin Bouygues, the company currently employs 126.42k people and with the stock's market cap sitting at €12b, it comes under the large-cap group. Volatility in the market is hardly detrimental to the financial health and business operations of a large, well-established company. Although some monetary and fiscal policy changes may impact some corporate financing decisions and strategy, what we've learnt over time is that these companies tend to adapt. And having a strong balance sheet and a history of proven success aids in this adaptability.

Currently Bouygues has €7.1b on its balance sheet, which requires regular interest payments. This requires the business to have enough cash to meet these upcoming interest expenses. With an interest coverage ratio of 7.17x, Bouygues produces sufficient earnings (EBIT) to cover its interest payments. Anything above 3x is considered safe practice. Moreover, its cash flows from operations copiously covers it debt by 30%, above the safe minimum of 20%. Its cash and short-term investment is also sufficient to cover other upcoming liabilities, which means EN is financially robust in the face of a volatile market.

EN’s year-on-year earnings growth has been positive over the past five years, with an average annual growth rate of 43%, outpacing the industry growth rate of 7.2%. It has also returned an ROE of 13% recently, above the market return of 15%. Bouygues's strong performance over time is a demonstration of its ability to grow through cycles, raising my confidence in the company as a long-term investment.

Next Steps:

Bouygues makes for a robust long-term investment based on its scale, financial health and track record. Remember, in bear markets, sell-offs can be unjustified. Ask yourself, has anything really changed with Bouygues? If not, then why not scoop it up at a discount? Lining your portfolio with a few well-established companies can reduce your risk and help you scale your wealth in the long run. One thing you should remember though, is to do your homework. Do your own research, come up with your point of view. Below is a list I've put together of other things you should consider before you buy:

1. Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for EN’s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for EN’s outlook.
2. Valuation: What is EN worth today? Is the stock undervalued, even when its growth outlook is factored into its intrinsic value? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether EN is currently mispriced by the market.
3. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

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. Thank you for reading.