It's only natural that many investors, especially those who are new to the game, prefer to buy shares in 'sexy' stocks with a good story, even if those businesses lose money. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes.
In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like 7FIT (WSE:7FT). Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.
View our latest analysis for 7FIT
7FIT's Improving Profits
Over the last three years, 7FIT 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. Like a falcon taking flight, 7FIT's EPS soared from zł0.28 to zł0.45, over the last year. That's a commendable gain of 58%.
One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. While we note 7FIT's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 14% to zł12m. That's a real positive.
The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.
7FIT isn't a huge company, given its market capitalization of zł8.2m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.
Are 7FIT Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
Personally, I like to see high insider ownership of a company, since it suggests that it will be managed in the interests of shareholders. So as you can imagine, the fact that 7FIT insiders own a significant number of shares certainly appeals to me. In fact, they own 65% of the company, so they will share in the same delights and challenges experienced by the ordinary shareholders. This makes me think they will be incentivised to plan for the long term - something I like to see. Valued at only zł8.2m 7FIT is really small for a listed company. So despite a large proportional holding, insiders only have zł5.3m worth of stock. That's not a huge stake in absolute terms, but it should help keep insiders aligned with other shareholders.
Should You Add 7FIT To Your Watchlist?
You can't deny that 7FIT has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. I think that EPS growth is something to boast of, and it doesn't surprise me that insiders are holding on to a considerable chunk of shares. Fast growth and confident insiders should be enough to warrant further research. So the answer is that I do think this is a good stock to follow along with. Even so, be aware that 7FIT is showing 5 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 3 of those make us uncomfortable...
You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
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About WSE:7FT
7FIT
Operates a network of nutrient stores in Poland, the Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Slovakia, and France..
Excellent balance sheet low.