For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it currently lacks a track record of revenue and profit. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.
Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Stealth Group Holdings (ASX:SGI). While profit isn't the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it's worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.
Stealth Group Holdings' Improving Profits
In the last three years Stealth Group Holdings' earnings per share took off; so much so that it's a bit disingenuous to use these figures to try and deduce long term estimates. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. In impressive fashion, Stealth Group Holdings' EPS grew from AU$0.011 to AU$0.018, over the previous 12 months. It's not often a company can achieve year-on-year growth of 73%.
It's often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Stealth Group Holdings maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 12% to AU$129m. That's progress.
The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.
See our latest analysis for Stealth Group Holdings
Since Stealth Group Holdings is no giant, with a market capitalisation of AU$103m, you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects.
Are Stealth Group Holdings Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
It's a necessity that company leaders act in the best interest of shareholders and so insider investment always comes as a reassurance to the market. So it is good to see that Stealth Group Holdings insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. To be specific, they have AU$32m worth of shares. That's a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard. That amounts to 31% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders.
Should You Add Stealth Group Holdings To Your Watchlist?
Stealth Group Holdings' earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. This level of EPS growth does wonders for attracting investment, and the large insider investment in the company is just the cherry on top. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. Based on the sum of its parts, we definitely think its worth watching Stealth Group Holdings very closely. Before you take the next step you should know about the 4 warning signs for Stealth Group Holdings (1 doesn't sit too well with us!) that we have uncovered.
Although Stealth Group Holdings certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with more skin in the game, then check out this handpicked selection of Australian companies that not only boast of strong growth but have strong insider backing.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.
Discover if Stealth Group Holdings might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.
Access Free AnalysisHave feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.