For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit.But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, ‘Long shots almost never pay off.'” data-reactid=”18″>For beginners, it can seem like a good idea (and an exciting prospect) to buy a company that tells a good story to investors, even if it completely lacks a track record of revenue and profit.But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street , ‘Long shots almost never pay off.’ So if you’re like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like ArcBest ( NASDAQ:ARCB ).Even if the shares are fully valued today, most capitalists would recognize its profits as the demonstration of steady value generation.While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, unless its owners have an endless appetite for subsidizing the customer, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else breathe its last breath.See our latest analysis for ArcBest How Fast Is ArcBest Growing? The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so share price follows earnings per share (EPS) eventually.That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors.Who among us would not applaud ArcBest’s stratospheric annual EPS growth of 45%, compound, over the last three years? Growth that fast may well be fleeting, but like a lotus blooming from a murky pond, it sparks joy for the wary stock pickers.
Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth.ArcBest maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 4.6% to US$3.1b.That’s progress.In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time.
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 ArcBest’s forecast profits ? Are ArcBest Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? It makes me feel more secure owning shares in a company if insiders also own shares, thusly more closely aligning our interests.
As a result, I’m encouraged by the fact that insiders own ArcBest shares worth a considerable sum.Indeed, they hold US$20m worth of its stock.That’s a lot of money, and no small incentive to work hard.Despite being just 2.8% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture.Does ArcBest Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist? ArcBest’s earnings have taken off like any random crypto-currency did, back in 2017.
That sort of growth is nothing short of eye-catching, and the large investment held by insiders certainly brightens my view of the company.At times fast EPS growth is a sign the business has reached an inflection point; and I do like those.So to my mind ArcBest is worth putting on your watchlist; after all, shareholders do well when the market underestimates fast growing companies.Of course, just because ArcBest is growing does not mean it is undervalued.
If you’re wondering about the valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio , as compared to its industry.
You can invest in 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 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 .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..
