Should WCF Bancorp Inc's (NASDAQ:WCFB) Recent Earnings Decline Worry You?

Assessing WCF Bancorp Inc's (NASDAQ:WCFB) past track record of performance is an insightful exercise for investors. It allows us to reflect on whether or not the company has met or exceed expectations, which is a great indicator for future performance. Today I will assess WCFB's recent performance announced on 30 September 2017 and evaluate these figures to its long-term trend and industry movements. View our latest analysis for WCF Bancorp

Was WCFB's weak performance lately a part of a long-term decline?

To account for any quarterly or half-yearly updates, I use data from the most recent 12 months, which annualizes the latest 6-month earnings release, or some times, the latest annual report is already the most recent financial data. This enables me to analyze various companies on a more comparable basis, using the latest information. For WCF Bancorp, its most recent bottom-line (trailing twelve month) is US$50.25K, which, against the prior year's level, has fallen by a large -78.51%. Given that these figures are relatively nearsighted, I have created an annualized five-year figure for WCFB's earnings, which stands at US$214.95K This doesn't look much better, since earnings seem to have steadily been deteriorating over the longer term.

Why could this be happening? Well, let’s take a look at what’s transpiring with margins and if the rest of the industry is experiencing the hit as well. Revenue growth in the last few years, has been positive, yet earnings growth has been falling. This means WCF Bancorp has been increasing expenses, which is harming margins and earnings, and is not a sustainable practice. Eyeballing growth from a sector-level, the US mortgage industry has been relatively flat in terms of earnings growth in the prior twelve months, settling down from a solid 12.93% over the previous five years. This suggests that whatever near-term headwind the industry is enduring, it’s hitting WCF Bancorp harder than its peers.

What does this mean?

WCF Bancorp's track record can be a valuable insight into its earnings performance, but it certainly doesn't tell the whole story. Typically companies that face a prolonged period of decline in earnings are going through some sort of reinvestment phase . However, if the entire industry is struggling to grow over time, it may be a sign of a structural change, which makes WCF Bancorp and its peers a riskier investment. You should continue to research WCF Bancorp to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:

• 1. Financial Health: Is WCFB’s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why we’ve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here.
• 2. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 30 September 2017. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

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Simply Wall St analyst Simply Wall St and Simply Wall St have no position in any of the companies mentioned. This article 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.