Does Sysco's (NYSE:SYY) Share Price Gain of 85% Match Its Business Performance?

Stock pickers are generally looking for stocks that will outperform the broader market. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. For example, the Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) share price is up 85% in the last 5 years, clearly besting than the market return of around 43% (ignoring dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 12% in the last year, including dividends.

See our latest analysis for Sysco

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Over half a decade, Sysco managed to grow its earnings per share at 11% a year. This EPS growth is reasonably close to the 13% average annual increase in the share price. Therefore one could conclude that sentiment towards the shares hasn't morphed very much. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Sysco has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? Check if analysts think Sysco will grow revenue in the future.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Sysco the TSR over the last 5 years was 111%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Sysco has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 12% in the last twelve months. That's including the dividend. However, the TSR over five years, coming in at 16% per year, is even more impressive. Before deciding if you like the current share price, check how Sysco scores on these 3 valuation metrics.

But note: Sysco may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this freelist of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.