If You Had Bought Trimble (NASDAQ:TRMB) Shares Three Years Ago You'd Have Made 46%

It hasn't been the best quarter for Trimble Inc. (NASDAQ:TRMB) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 12% in that time. In contrast the stock is up over the last three years. However, it's unlikely many shareholders are elated with the share price gain of 46% over that time, given the rising market.

View our latest analysis for Trimble

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Trimble was able to grow its EPS at 40% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. This EPS growth is higher than the 13% average annual increase in the share price. So one could reasonably conclude that the market has cooled on the stock.

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

A Different Perspective

Trimble shareholders are down 11% for the year, but the market itself is up 4.0%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Longer term investors wouldn't be so upset, since they would have made 3.1%, each year, over five years. 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.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

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

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.