Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase ‘the next big thing’, even if that means buying ‘story stocks’ without revenue, let alone profit. Unfortunately, high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson.
So if you’re like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE:OEC). While that doesn’t make the shares worth buying at any price, you can’t deny that successful capitalism requires profit, eventually. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing.
See our latest analysis for Orion Engineered Carbons
Orion Engineered Carbons’s Improving Profits
Even modest earnings per share growth (EPS) can create meaningful value, when it is sustained reliably from year to year. So EPS growth can certainly encourage an investor to take note of a stock. It is therefore awe-striking that Orion Engineered Carbons’s EPS went from US$0.30 to US$2.22 in just one year. Even though that growth rate is unlikely to be repeated, that looks like a breakout improvement. Could this be a sign that the business has reached an inflection point?
I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company’s growth. Orion Engineered Carbons shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 6.0% to 9.1%, and revenue is growing. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in my book.
You can take a look at the company’s revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.
The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. To that end, right now and today, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for future Orion Engineered Carbons EPS 100% free.
Are Orion Engineered Carbons Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
Like that fresh smell in the air when the rains are coming, insider buying fills me with optimistic anticipation. This view is based on the possibility that stock purchases signal bullishness on behalf of the buyer. However, small purchases are not always indicative of conviction, and insiders don’t always get it right.
It’s a pleasure to note that insiders spent US$1.1m buying Orion Engineered Carbons shares, over the last year, without reporting any share sales whatsoever. As if for a flower bud approaching bloom, I become an expectant observer, anticipating with hope, that something splendid is coming. Zooming in, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by CEO & Executive Director Corning Painter for US$522k worth of shares, at about US$17.39 per share.
The good news, alongside the insider buying, for Orion Engineered Carbons bulls is that insiders (collectively) have a meaningful investment in the stock. Indeed, they hold US$16m worth of its stock. That shows significant buy-in, and may indicate conviction in the business strategy. Even though that’s only about 1.4% of the company, it’s enough money to indicate alignment between the leaders of the business and ordinary shareholders.
Should You Add Orion Engineered Carbons To Your Watchlist?
Orion Engineered Carbons’s earnings have taken off like any random crypto-currency did, back in 2017. Just as heartening; insiders both own and are buying more stock. Because of the potential that it has reached an inflection point, I’d suggest Orion Engineered Carbons belongs on the top of your watchlist. Even so, be aware that Orion Engineered Carbons is showing 2 warning signs in our investment analysis , you should know about…
There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. So if you like the sound of Orion Engineered Carbons, you’ll probably love this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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.
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