Yahoo Finance With EPS Growth And More, Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI) Is Interesting
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. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses.
In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies like Intrepid Potash (NYSE:IPI), which has not only revenues, but also profits. Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. 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.
Check out our latest analysis for Intrepid Potash
How Fast Is Intrepid Potash Growing Its Earnings Per Share?
In business, though not in life, profits are a key measure of success; and share prices tend to reflect earnings per share (EPS). So like a ray of sunshine through a gap in the clouds, improving EPS is considered a good sign. You can imagine, then, that it almost knocked my socks off when I realized that Intrepid Potash grew its EPS from US$0.024 to US$0.15, in one short year. When you see earnings grow that quickly, it often means good things ahead for the company.
One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. The good news is that Intrepid Potash is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 7.3 percentage points to 14%, over the last year. That's great to see, on both counts.
In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.
Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Intrepid Potash.
Are Intrepid Potash Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
Like that fresh smell in the air when the rains are coming, insider buying fills me with optimistic anticipation. That's because insider buying often indicates that those closest to the company have confidence that the share price will perform well. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.
While Intrepid Potash insiders did net -US$35.1k selling stock over the last year, they invested US$597k, a much higher figure. On balance, to me, this signals their optimism. It is also worth noting that it was Independent Director Terry Considine who made the biggest single purchase, worth US$238k, paying US$2.43 per share.
The good news, alongside the insider buying, for Intrepid Potash bulls is that insiders (collectively) have a meaningful investment in the stock. With a whopping US$54m worth of shares as a group, insiders have plenty riding on the company's success. At 19% of the company, the co-investment by insiders gives me confidence that management will make long-term focussed decisions.
Is Intrepid Potash Worth Keeping An Eye On?
Intrepid Potash's earnings have taken off like any random crypto-currency did, back in 2017. What's more insiders own a significant stake in the company and have been buying more shares. Because of the potential that it has reached an inflection point, I'd suggest Intrepid Potash belongs on the top of your watchlist. Of course, just because Intrepid Potash 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.
As a growth investor I do like to see insider buying. But Intrepid Potash isn't the only one. You can see a a free list of them here.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction
If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. 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.
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