Dekpol (WSE:DEK) sheds 11% this week, as yearly returns fall more in line with earnings growth

It's been a soft week for Dekpol S.A. (WSE:DEK) shares, which are down 11%. But in stark contrast, the returns over the last half decade have impressed. It's fair to say most would be happy with 112% the gain in that time. So while it's never fun to see a share price fall, it's important to look at a longer time horizon. Only time will tell if there is still too much optimism currently reflected in the share price. Unfortunately not all shareholders will have held it for the long term, so spare a thought for those caught in the 19% decline over the last twelve months.

Since the long term performance has been good but there's been a recent pullback of 11%, let's check if the fundamentals match the share price.

Check out our latest analysis for Dekpol

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

Over half a decade, Dekpol managed to grow its earnings per share at 22% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 16% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 5.22.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Dive deeper into Dekpol's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Dekpol's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We've already covered Dekpol's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). 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. Dekpol's TSR of 123% for the 5 years exceeded its share price return, because it has paid dividends.

A Different Perspective

We regret to report that Dekpol shareholders are down 19% for the year. Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 5.8%. However, it could simply be that the share price has been impacted by broader market jitters. It might be worth keeping an eye on the fundamentals, in case there's a good opportunity. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 17% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. 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. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Dekpol (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about.

But note: Dekpol 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 PL 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.