Is Now The Time To Put Al Rajhi Banking and Investment (TADAWUL:1120) On Your Watchlist?

Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses.

In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like Al Rajhi Banking and Investment (TADAWUL:1120). Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation. Conversely, a loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the sweet milk of external capital may run sour.

See our latest analysis for Al Rajhi Banking and Investment

Al Rajhi Banking and Investment's Earnings Per Share Are Growing.

If you believe that markets are even vaguely efficient, then over the long term you'd expect a company's share price to follow its earnings per share (EPS). That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. We can see that in the last three years Al Rajhi Banking and Investment grew its EPS by 5.1% per year. That might not be particularly high growth, but it does show that per-share earnings are moving steadily in the right direction.

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). Not all of Al Rajhi Banking and Investment's revenue this year is revenue from operations, so keep in mind the revenue and margin numbers I've used might not be the best representation of the underlying business. While we note Al Rajhi Banking and Investment's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 4.8% to ر.س19b. That's progress.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Al Rajhi Banking and Investment's forecast profits?

Are Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a ر.س230b company like Al Rajhi Banking and Investment. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. Notably, they have an enormous stake in the company, worth ر.س5.3b. This suggests to me that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders' interests when making decisions!

Is Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Worth Keeping An Eye On?

As I already mentioned, Al Rajhi Banking and Investment 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. That combination appeals to me, for one. So yes, I do think the stock is worth keeping an eye on. Still, you should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Al Rajhi Banking and Investment .

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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