Stock Analysis

Should You Be Adding Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad (KLSE:FPI) To Your Watchlist Today?

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

So if you're like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad (KLSE:FPI). While that doesn't make the shares worth buying at any price, you can't deny that successful capitalism requires profit, eventually. 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad

Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad's Earnings Per Share Are Growing.

If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price will eventually follow. It's no surprise, then, that I like to invest in companies with EPS growth. We can see that in the last three years Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad grew its EPS by 8.6% per year. That growth rate is fairly good, assuming the company can keep it up.

I like to see top-line growth as an indication that growth is sustainable, and I look for a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin to point to a competitive moat (though some companies with low margins also have moats). This approach makes Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad look pretty good, on balance; although revenue is flattish, EBIT margins improved from 4.5% to 9.1% in the last year. That's something to smile about.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

earnings-and-revenue-history
KLSE:FPI Earnings and Revenue History February 28th 2021

Since Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad is no giant, with a market capitalization of RM688m, so you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects.

Are Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It makes me feel more secure owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, thusly more closely aligning our interests. As a result, I'm encouraged by the fact that insiders own Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad shares worth a considerable sum. Indeed, they hold RM145m worth of its stock. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. That amounts to 21% of the company, demonstrating a degree of high-level alignment with shareholders.

Does Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

As I already mentioned, Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad is a growing business, which is what I like to see. Just as polish makes silverware pop, the high level of insider ownership enhances my enthusiasm for this growth. The combination sparks joy for me, so I'd consider keeping the company on a watchlist. We should say that we've discovered 2 warning signs for Formosa Prosonic Industries Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

Of course, you can do well (sometimes) buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But as a growth investor I always like to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here.

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

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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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