Is Now The Time To Put Heritage-Crystal Clean (NASDAQ:HCCI) On Your Watchlist?

The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Heritage-Crystal Clean (NASDAQ:HCCI). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Heritage-Crystal Clean with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

Check out our latest analysis for Heritage-Crystal Clean

Heritage-Crystal Clean's Improving Profits

Heritage-Crystal Clean has undergone a massive growth in earnings per share over the last three years. So much so that this three year growth rate wouldn't be a fair assessment of the company's future. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. Impressively, Heritage-Crystal Clean's EPS catapulted from US$1.43 to US$2.92, over the last year. It's a rarity to see 104% year-on-year growth like that. The best case scenario? That the business has hit a true inflection point.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. The music to the ears of Heritage-Crystal Clean shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 11% to 16% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. That's great to see, on both counts.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Heritage-Crystal Clean's future profits.

Are Heritage-Crystal Clean Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

It's pleasing to see company leaders with putting their money on the line, so to speak, because it increases alignment of incentives between the people running the business, and its true owners. So it is good to see that Heritage-Crystal Clean insiders have a significant amount of capital invested in the stock. Holding US$75m worth of stock in the company is no laughing matter and insiders will be committed in delivering the best outcomes for shareholders. At 9.3% of the company, the co-investment by insiders fosters confidence that management will make long-term focussed decisions.

Should You Add Heritage-Crystal Clean To Your Watchlist?

Heritage-Crystal Clean's earnings per share have been soaring, with growth rates sky high. That EPS growth certainly is attention grabbing, and the large insider ownership only serves to further stoke our interest. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. Based on the sum of its parts, we definitely think its worth watching Heritage-Crystal Clean very closely. Even so, be aware that Heritage-Crystal Clean is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those makes us a bit uncomfortable...

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you 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. 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.