Was CEMATRIX Corporation's (CVE:CVX) Earnings Decline Part Of A Broader Industry Downturn?

Measuring CEMATRIX Corporation's (TSXV:CVX) track record of past performance is a valuable exercise for investors. It allows us to understand whether or not the company has met or exceed expectations, which is an insightful signal for future performance. Today I will assess CVX's recent performance announced on 31 December 2017 and compare these figures to its historical trend and industry movements. View our latest analysis for CEMATRIX

Was CVX's recent earnings decline worse than the long-term trend and the industry?

I prefer to use data from the most recent 12 months, which annualizes the latest 6-month earnings release, or some times, the latest annual report is already the most recent financial data. This blend enables me to assess many different companies on a similar basis, using the latest information. For CEMATRIX, its latest trailing-twelve-month earnings is -CA$1.19M, which, relative to last year’s level, has become more negative. Since these figures may be somewhat short-term, I have determined an annualized five-year figure for CVX's earnings, which stands at CA$85.89K.

We can further examine CEMATRIX's loss by looking at what the industry has been experiencing over the past few years. Each year, for the past half a decade CEMATRIX's top-line has risen by a mere 7.37%, on average. The company's inability to breakeven has been aided by the relatively flat top-line in the past. Inspecting growth from a sector-level, the Canadian basic materials industry has been growing, albeit, at a muted single-digit rate of 5.77% in the past year, and a substantial 35.93% over the past five. This means any uplift the industry is benefiting from, CEMATRIX has not been able to gain as much as its industry peers.

What does this mean?

CEMATRIX's track record can be a valuable insight into its earnings performance, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story. With companies that are currently loss-making, it is always difficult to predict what will happen in the future and when. The most insightful step is to assess company-specific issues CEMATRIX may be facing and whether management guidance has steadily been met in the past. You should continue to research CEMATRIX to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:

1. Financial Health: Is CVX’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here.
2. Valuation: What is CVX 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 CVX 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.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2017. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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Simply Wall St analyst Simply Wall St and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article 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.