It might seem bad, but the worst that can happen when you buy a stock (without leverage) is that its share price goes to zero. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. For example, the Plover Bay Technologies Limited (HKG:1523) share price has soared 118% in the last three years. That sort of return is as solid as granite. The last week saw the share price soften some 2.7%.
Check out our latest analysis for Plover Bay Technologies
While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company’s share price and its earnings per share (EPS).
During three years of share price growth, Plover Bay Technologies achieved compound earnings per share growth of 21% per year. In comparison, the 30% per year gain in the share price outpaces the EPS growth. So it’s fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago. It’s not unusual to see the market ‘re-rate’ a stock, after a few years of growth.
The company’s earnings per share (over time) are depicted in the image below.
We know that Plover Bay Technologies has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? This free report showing analyst revenue forecasts should help you figure out if the EPS growth can be sustained.
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 is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It’s fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Plover Bay Technologies the TSR over the last 3 years was 157%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!
A Different Perspective
Over the last year, Plover Bay Technologies shareholders took a loss of 6.5% , including dividends . In contrast the market gained about 5.5%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Investors are up over three years, booking 37% per year, much better than the more recent returns. The recent sell-off could be an opportunity if the business remains sound, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long-term growth trend. Importantly, we haven’t analysed Plover Bay Technologies’s dividend history. This free visual report on its dividends is a must-read if you’re thinking of buying.
For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK 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.