Here's Why BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL) Has Caught The Eye Of Investors

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. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide BlueScope Steel with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

Our analysis indicates that BSL is potentially undervalued!

How Fast Is BlueScope Steel Growing?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price should eventually follow. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. BlueScope Steel's shareholders have have plenty to be happy about as their annual EPS growth for the last 3 years was 48%. That sort of growth rarely ever lasts long, but it is well worth paying attention to when it happens.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. The music to the ears of BlueScope Steel shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 13% to 20% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. Both of which are great metrics to check off for potential growth.

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.

Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of BlueScope Steel's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting.

Are BlueScope Steel Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a AU$8.0b company like BlueScope Steel. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. Indeed, they hold AU$38m worth of its stock. This considerable investment should help drive long-term value in the business. Even though that's only about 0.5% of the company, it's enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders.

Does BlueScope Steel Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

BlueScope Steel's earnings per share growth have been climbing higher at an appreciable rate. This level of EPS growth does wonders for attracting investment, and the large insider investment in the company is just the cherry on top. At times fast EPS growth is a sign the business has reached an inflection point, so there's a potential opportunity to be had here. Based on the sum of its parts, we definitely think its worth watching BlueScope Steel very closely. You should always think about risks though. Case in point, we've spotted 3 warning signs for BlueScope Steel you should be aware of, and 1 of them can't be ignored.

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here.

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

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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.