When we invest, we’re generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. For example, long term Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure Limited (HKG:1052) shareholders have enjoyed a 43% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 6.7% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven’t been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 9.9% in the last year, including dividends.
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See our latest analysis for Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure
While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.
Over half a decade, Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure managed to grow its earnings per share at 14% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 7.5% average annual increase in the share price. So one could conclude that the broader market has become more cautious towards the stock. The reasonably low P/E ratio of 8.76 also suggests market apprehension.
The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).
We know that Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? You could check out this free report showing analyst revenue forecasts.
What About Dividends?
When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It’s fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure, it has a TSR of 92% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there’s no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!
A Different Perspective
It’s nice to see that Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 9.9% over the last year. Of course, that includes the dividend. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 14% a year, is even better. Keeping this in mind, a solid next step might be to take a look at Yuexiu Transport Infrastructure’s dividend track record. This free interactive graph is a great place to start.
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 HK exchanges.
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.