Eurosnack S.A.'s (WSE:ECK) Stock Is Going Strong: Is the Market Following Fundamentals?

Eurosnack (WSE:ECK) has had a great run on the share market with its stock up by a significant 31% over the last three months. Given that the market rewards strong financials in the long-term, we wonder if that is the case in this instance. In this article, we decided to focus on Eurosnack's ROE.

Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. In simpler terms, it measures the profitability of a company in relation to shareholder's equity.

See our latest analysis for Eurosnack

How Is ROE Calculated?

ROE can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) ÷ Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Eurosnack is:

22% = zł2.2m ÷ zł9.9m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2020).

The 'return' is the income the business earned over the last year. So, this means that for every PLN1 of its shareholder's investments, the company generates a profit of PLN0.22.

What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth?

We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a company’s earnings growth potential. Assuming all else is equal, companies that have both a higher return on equity and higher profit retention are usually the ones that have a higher growth rate when compared to companies that don't have the same features.

Eurosnack's Earnings Growth And 22% ROE

To start with, Eurosnack's ROE looks acceptable. Further, the company's ROE compares quite favorably to the industry average of 7.7%. This certainly adds some context to Eurosnack's exceptional 47% net income growth seen over the past five years. We believe that there might also be other aspects that are positively influencing the company's earnings growth. Such as - high earnings retention or an efficient management in place.

Next, on comparing with the industry net income growth, we found that Eurosnack's growth is quite high when compared to the industry average growth of 5.3% in the same period, which is great to see.

Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. If you're wondering about Eurosnack's's valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.

Is Eurosnack Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

Summary

In total, we are pretty happy with Eurosnack's performance. Particularly, we like that the company is reinvesting heavily into its business, and at a high rate of return. Unsurprisingly, this has led to an impressive earnings growth. If the company continues to grow its earnings the way it has, that could have a positive impact on its share price given how earnings per share influence long-term share prices. Not to forget, share price outcomes are also dependent on the potential risks a company may face. So it is important for investors to be aware of the risks involved in the business. Our risks dashboard would have the 3 risks we have identified for Eurosnack.

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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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