Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries (ATH:MOH) Has Compensated Shareholders With A Respectable 86% Return On Their Investment

Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. To wit, the Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries share price has climbed 44% in five years, easily topping the market decline of 52% (ignoring dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 12% in the last year.

Check out our latest analysis for Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. 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.

Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries' earnings per share are down 25% per year, despite strong share price performance over five years.

Essentially, it doesn't seem likely that investors are focused on EPS. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics.

On the other hand, Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries' revenue is growing nicely, at a compound rate of 3.3% over the last five years. In that case, the company may be sacrificing current earnings per share to drive growth.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

We know that Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries will earn in the future (free profit forecasts).

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We'd be remiss not to mention the difference between Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries' total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price return. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries' TSR of 86% over the last 5 years is better than the share price return.

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 12% over one year. However, the TSR over five years, coming in at 13% per year, is even more impressive. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries .

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GR exchanges.

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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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