It’s common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, ‘Long shots almost never pay off.’ Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital – so investors should be cautious that they’re not throwing good money after bad.
So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn’t suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Mosaic (NYSE:MOS). While profit isn’t the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it’s worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.
See our latest analysis for Mosaic
Mosaic’s Improving Profits
Over the last three years, Mosaic has grown earnings per share (EPS) at as impressive rate from a relatively low point, resulting in a three year percentage growth rate that isn’t particularly indicative of expected future performance. So it would be better to isolate the growth rate over the last year for our analysis. Outstandingly, Mosaic’s EPS shot from US$2.71 to US$7.34, over the last year. It’s a rarity to see 171% year-on-year growth like that. Shareholders will be hopeful that this is a sign of the company reaching an inflection point.
Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it’s a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Mosaic shareholders can take confidence from the fact that EBIT margins are up from 8.6% to 25%, and revenue is growing. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our 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.
In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Mosaic’s forecast profits?
Are Mosaic Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
Since Mosaic has a market capitalisation of US$19b, we wouldn’t expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But thanks to their investment in the company, it’s pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. Holding US$64m worth of stock in the company is no laughing matter and insiders will be committed in delivering the best outcomes for shareholders. That’s certainly enough to let shareholders know that management will be very focussed on long term growth.
Does Mosaic Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?
Mosaic’s earnings per share growth have been climbing higher at an appreciable rate. That sort of growth is nothing short of eye-catching, and the large investment held by insiders should certainly brighten the view of the company. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. So based on this quick analysis, we do think it’s worth considering Mosaic for a spot on your watchlist. We should say that we’ve discovered 2 warning signs for Mosaic (1 is a bit unpleasant!) that you should be aware of before investing here.
The beauty of investing is that you can invest in almost any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
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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.
Read More: We Ran A Stock Scan For Earnings Growth And Mosaic (NYSE:MOS) Passed With Ease