Investors in iNtRON Biotechnology (KOSDAQ:048530) from three years ago are still down 71%, even after 25% gain this past week

It's nice to see the iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc. (KOSDAQ:048530) share price up 25% in a week. But the last three years have seen a terrible decline. To wit, the share price sky-dived 71% in that time. So it sure is nice to see a bit of an improvement. Only time will tell if the company can sustain the turnaround.

While the last three years has been tough for iNtRON Biotechnology shareholders, this past week has shown signs of promise. So let's look at the longer term fundamentals and see if they've been the driver of the negative returns.

See our latest analysis for iNtRON Biotechnology

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. 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.

Over the three years that the share price declined, iNtRON Biotechnology's earnings per share (EPS) dropped significantly, falling to a loss. Since the company has fallen to a loss making position, it's hard to compare the change in EPS with the share price change. But it's safe to say we'd generally expect the share price to be lower as a result!

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on iNtRON Biotechnology's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that iNtRON Biotechnology shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 12% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That certainly beats the loss of about 6% per year over the last half decade. The long term loss makes us cautious, but the short term TSR gain certainly hints at a brighter future. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for iNtRON Biotechnology you should be aware of.

But note: iNtRON Biotechnology may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

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

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This article by Simply Wall St 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. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.