Stock Analysis

Here's Why I Think Netcall (LON:NET) Might Deserve Your Attention Today

AIM:NET
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Some have more dollars than sense, they say, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can easily find investors. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses.

So if you're like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Netcall (LON:NET). Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing.

View our latest analysis for Netcall

How Quickly Is Netcall Increasing Earnings Per Share?

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price will eventually follow. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. It certainly is nice to see that Netcall has managed to grow EPS by 28% per year over three years. As a result, we can understand why the stock trades on a high multiple of trailing twelve month earnings.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. Netcall maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 10.0% to UK£26m. That's a real positive.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

earnings-and-revenue-history
AIM:NET Earnings and Revenue History March 2nd 2021

Since Netcall is no giant, with a market capitalization of UK£101m, so you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects.

Are Netcall Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Like standing at the lookout, surveying the horizon at sunrise, insider buying, for some investors, sparks joy. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.

The good news for Netcall shareholders is that no insiders reported selling shares in the last year. So it's definitely nice that Non-Executive Chairman Michael Edward Jackson bought UK£18k worth of shares at an average price of around UK£0.29.

Along with the insider buying, another encouraging sign for Netcall is that insiders, as a group, have a considerable shareholding. To be specific, they have UK£11m worth of shares. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. That amounts to 11% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders.

Does Netcall Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

You can't deny that Netcall has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Better still, insiders own a large chunk of the company and one has even been buying more shares. So it's fair to say I think this stock may well deserve a spot on your watchlist. Even so, be aware that Netcall is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those can't be ignored...

The good news is that Netcall is not the only growth stock with insider buying. Here's a list of them... with insider buying in the last three months!

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

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Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.

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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. 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.
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