Did Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group's (ASX:SCP) Share Price Deserve to Gain 45%?

Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card!

Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And in our experience, buying the right stocks can give your wealth a significant boost. For example, long term Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group (ASX:SCP) shareholders have enjoyed a 45% share price rise over the last half decade, well in excess of the market return of around 7.4% (not including dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 11%, including dividends.

See our latest analysis for Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

During five years of share price growth, Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 1.5% per year. This EPS growth is lower than the 7.8% average annual increase in the share price. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did five years ago. And that's hardly shocking given the track record of growth.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. 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. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. We note that for Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group the TSR over the last 5 years was 94%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 11% over one year. And that does include the dividend. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 14% a year, is even better. Most investors take the time to check the data on insider transactions. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

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.

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.