Yahoo Finance Is Now The Time To Put Steppe Cement (LON:STCM) On Your Watchlist?
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. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.
Despite being in the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, many investors still adopt a more traditional strategy; buying shares in profitable companies like Steppe Cement (LON:STCM). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Steppe Cement with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.
Check out our latest analysis for Steppe Cement
Steppe Cement's Earnings Per Share Are Growing
Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Shareholders will be happy to know that Steppe Cement's EPS has grown 21% each year, compound, over three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about.
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. The good news is that Steppe Cement is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 8.6 percentage points to 28%, over the last year. Both of which are great metrics to check off for potential growth.
You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.
Steppe Cement isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of UK£88m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.
Are Steppe Cement Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
It's said that there's no smoke without fire. For investors, insider buying is often the smoke that indicates which stocks could set the market alight. Because often, the purchase of stock is a sign that the buyer views it as undervalued. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.
The good news is that Steppe Cement insiders spent a whopping US$1.0m on stock in just one year, without so much as a single sale. Buying like that is a fantastic look for the company and should rouse the market in anticipation for the future. It is also worth noting that it was company insider David Crichton-Watt who made the biggest single purchase, worth UK£895k, paying UK£0.32 per share.
On top of the insider buying, we can also see that Steppe Cement insiders own a large chunk of the company. In fact, they own 48% of the shares, making insiders a very influential shareholder group. This should be a welcoming sign for investors because it suggests that the people making the decisions are also impacted by their choices. To give you an idea, the value of insiders' holdings in the business are valued at US$42m at the current share price. That should be more than enough to keep them focussed on creating shareholder value!
Shareholders have more to smile about than just insiders adding more shares to their already sizeable holdings. The cherry on top is that the CEO, Javier del Ser Perez is paid comparatively modestly to CEOs at similar sized companies. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Steppe Cement, with market caps under US$200m is around US$344k.
The Steppe Cement CEO received total compensation of only US$30k in the year to December 2021. This could be considered a token amount, and indicates that the company does not need to use payment to motivate the CEO - that is often a good sign. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. Generally, arguments can be made that reasonable pay levels attest to good decision-making.
Does Steppe Cement Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?
For growth investors, Steppe Cement's raw rate of earnings growth is a beacon in the night. Furthermore, company insiders have been adding to their significant stake in the company. So it's fair to say that this stock may well deserve a spot on your watchlist. It is worth noting though that we have found 2 warning signs for Steppe Cement that you need to take into consideration.
There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. So if you like the sound of Steppe Cement, 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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