Investing in Medpace Holdings (NASDAQ:MEDP) five years ago would have delivered you a 211% gain

It hasn't been the best quarter for Medpace Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MEDP) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 14% in that time. But in stark contrast, the returns over the last half decade have impressed. Indeed, the share price is up an impressive 211% in that time. Generally speaking the long term returns will give you a better idea of business quality than short periods can. Only time will tell if there is still too much optimism currently reflected in the share price. Unfortunately not all shareholders will have held it for the long term, so spare a thought for those caught in the 25% decline over the last twelve months.

So let's investigate and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress.

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To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

Over half a decade, Medpace Holdings managed to grow its earnings per share at 37% a year. The EPS growth is more impressive than the yearly share price gain of 25% over the same period. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days.

You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

We know that Medpace Holdings has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? Take a more thorough look at Medpace Holdings' financial health with this free report on its balance sheet.

A Different Perspective

Investors in Medpace Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 25%, against a market gain of about 12%. 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 25% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. If you would like to research Medpace Holdings in more detail then you might want to take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in the company.

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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.