Yahoo Finance Did Business Growth Power Royal Mail's (LON:RMG) Share Price Gain of 233%?
When you buy shares in a company, there is always a risk that the price drops to zero. But if you pick the right stock, you can make a lot more than 100%. For example, the Royal Mail plc (LON:RMG) share price has soared 233% in the last year. Most would be very happy with that, especially in just one year! Also pleasing for shareholders was the 14% gain in the last three months. But this move may well have been assisted by the reasonably buoyant market (up 6.8% in 90 days). The longer term returns have not been as good, with the stock price only 15% higher than it was three years ago.
View our latest analysis for Royal Mail
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).
Royal Mail was able to grow EPS by 283% in the last twelve months. This EPS growth is significantly higher than the 233% increase in the share price. So it seems like the market has cooled on Royal Mail, despite the growth. Interesting. This cautious sentiment is reflected in its (fairly low) P/E ratio of 9.52.
You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).
It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized 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 Royal Mail's earnings, revenue and cash flow.
A Different Perspective
We're pleased to report that Royal Mail shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 233% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 8%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Royal Mail (at least 1 which is potentially serious) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.
For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB exchanges.
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. 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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