Universal Logistics Holdings (NASDAQ:ULH) stock falls 11% in past week as one-year earnings and shareholder returns continue downward trend

Taking the occasional loss comes part and parcel with investing on the stock market. And unfortunately for Universal Logistics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULH) shareholders, the stock is a lot lower today than it was a year ago. To wit the share price is down 57% in that time. To make matters worse, the returns over three years have also been really disappointing (the share price is 49% lower than three years ago). The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 25% in the last three months.

Given the past week has been tough on shareholders, let's investigate the fundamentals and see what we can learn.

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In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. 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.

Unhappily, Universal Logistics Holdings had to report a 52% decline in EPS over the last year. This proportional reduction in earnings per share isn't far from the 57% decrease in the share price. Therefore one could posit that the market has not become more concerned about the company, despite the lower EPS. Instead, the change in the share price seems to reduction in earnings per share, alone.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. But while CEO remuneration is always worth checking, the really important question is whether the company can grow earnings going forward. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Universal Logistics Holdings' earnings, revenue and cash flow.

A Different Perspective

Investors in Universal Logistics Holdings had a tough year, with a total loss of 56% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 20%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 2% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Universal Logistics Holdings (including 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) .

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.