Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,960.26
    +28.28 (+0.36%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,917.33
    +106.67 (+0.54%)
     
  • AIM

    744.57
    +2.46 (+0.33%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1702
    +0.0033 (+0.28%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2644
    +0.0006 (+0.05%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    56,101.16
    +1,359.29 (+2.48%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,251.26
    +2.77 (+0.05%)
     
  • DOW

    39,762.92
    +2.84 (+0.01%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    82.75
    +1.40 (+1.72%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,240.80
    +28.10 (+1.27%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,168.07
    -594.66 (-1.46%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,496.22
    +19.13 (+0.10%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,213.35
    +8.54 (+0.10%)
     

Those who invested in Ladder Capital (NYSE:LADR) a year ago are up 46%

The simplest way to invest in stocks is to buy exchange traded funds. But one can do better than that by picking better than average stocks (as part of a diversified portfolio). For example, the Ladder Capital Corp (NYSE:LADR) share price is up 36% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market return of around 28% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. In contrast, the longer term returns are negative, since the share price is 32% lower than it was three years ago.

With that in mind, it's worth seeing if the company's underlying fundamentals have been the driver of long term performance, or if there are some discrepancies.

View our latest analysis for Ladder Capital

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ladder Capital went from making a loss to reporting a profit, in the last year.

When a company has just transitioned to profitability, earnings per share growth is not always the best way to look at the share price action.

We haven't seen Ladder Capital increase dividend payments yet, so the yield probably hasn't helped drive the share higher. Revenue actually dropped 6.7% over last year. It's fair to say we're a little surprised to see the share price up, and that makes us cautious.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

earnings-and-revenue-growth
earnings-and-revenue-growth

You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Ladder Capital the TSR over the last 1 year was 46%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Ladder Capital shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 46% over one year. Of course, that includes the dividend. That's better than the annualised return of 5% over half a decade, implying that the company is doing better recently. 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. Even so, be aware that Ladder Capital is showing 4 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those is significant...

We will like Ladder Capital better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.

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.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.