With EPS Growth And More, STG International (TLV:STG) Is Interesting

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 as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.'

If, on the other hand, you like companies that have revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in STG International (TLV:STG). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business that can consistently produce it. 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.

See our latest analysis for STG International

How Fast Is STG International Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

Over the last three years, STG International has grown earnings per share (EPS) like young bamboo after rain; fast, and from a low base. So I don't think the percent growth rate is particularly meaningful. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. It's good to see that STG International's EPS have grown from ₪1.36 to ₪1.59 over twelve months. That's a 17% gain; respectable growth in the broader scheme of things.

I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. STG International maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 8.6% to ₪115m. That's progress.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.

STG International isn't a huge company, given its market capitalization of ₪103m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are STG International Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Many consider high insider ownership to be a strong sign of alignment between the leaders of a company and the ordinary shareholders. So we're pleased to report that STG International insiders own a meaningful share of the business. Indeed, with a collective holding of 75%, company insiders are in control and have plenty of capital behind the venture. This makes me think they will be incentivised to plan for the long term - something I like to see. In terms of absolute value, insiders have ₪77m invested in the business, using the current share price. That should be more than enough to keep them focussed on creating shareholder value!

It's good to see that insiders are invested in the company, but are remuneration levels reasonable? A brief analysis of the CEO compensation suggests they are. I discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like STG International with market caps under ₪659m is about ₪1.4m.

STG International offered total compensation worth ₪815k to its CEO in the year to . That comes in below the average for similar sized companies, and seems pretty reasonable to me. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when its reasonable that does give me a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Is STG International Worth Keeping An Eye On?

One positive for STG International is that it is growing EPS. That's nice to see. The fact that EPS is growing is a genuine positive for STG International, but the pretty picture gets better than that. With a meaningful level of insider ownership, and reasonable CEO pay, a reasonable mind might conclude that this is one stock worth watching. What about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for STG International you should know about.

Although STG International certainly looks good to me, I would like it more if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, too, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for.

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

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