The total return for Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX) investors has risen faster than earnings growth over the last five years

Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. (NYSE:HLX) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 24% in the last quarter. On the bright side the share price is up over the last half decade. However we are not very impressed because the share price is only up 86%, less than the market return of 101%. While the long term returns are impressive, we do have some sympathy for those who bought more recently, given the 46% drop, in the last year.

While the stock has fallen 7.9% this week, it's worth focusing on the longer term and seeing if the stocks historical returns have been driven by the underlying fundamentals.

We check all companies for important risks. See what we found for Helix Energy Solutions Group in our free report.

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During the last half decade, Helix Energy Solutions Group became profitable. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd hope to see the share price to rise.

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

We know that Helix Energy Solutions Group has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? This free interactive report on Helix Energy Solutions Group's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

Helix Energy Solutions Group shareholders are down 46% for the year, but the market itself is up 11%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 13% per year over half a decade. If the fundamental data continues to indicate long term sustainable growth, the current sell-off could be an opportunity worth considering. Most investors take the time to check the data on insider transactions. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

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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.