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Those Who Purchased Bahamas Petroleum (LON:BPC) Shares A Year Ago Have A 46% Loss To Show For It

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Investors can approximate the average market return by buying an index fund. But if you buy individual stocks, you can do both better or worse than that. Unfortunately the Bahamas Petroleum Company plc (LON:BPC) share price slid 46% over twelve months. That contrasts poorly with the market return of -0.04%. On the other hand, the stock is actually up 13% over three years. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 32% in the last three months.

Check out our latest analysis for Bahamas Petroleum

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With zero revenue generated over twelve months, we don't think that Bahamas Petroleum has proved its business plan yet. You have to wonder why venture capitalists aren't funding it. As a result, we think it's unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. For example, they may be hoping that Bahamas Petroleum finds fossil fuels with an exploration program, before it runs out of money.

We think companies that have neither significant revenues nor profits are pretty high risk. There is almost always a chance they will need to raise more capital, and their progress - and share price - will dictate how dilutive that is to current holders. While some companies like this go on to deliver on their plan, making good money for shareholders, many end in painful losses and eventual de-listing.

Bahamas Petroleum had cash in excess of all liabilities of just US$1.9m when it last reported (December 2018). So if it has not already moved to replenish reserves, we think the near-term chances of a capital raising event are pretty high. That probably explains why the share price is down 46% in the last year. You can click on the image below to see (in greater detail) how Bahamas Petroleum's cash levels have changed over time.

AIM:BPC Historical Debt, June 13th 2019
AIM:BPC Historical Debt, June 13th 2019

Of course, the truth is that it is hard to value companies without much revenue or profit. Would it bother you if insiders were selling the stock? I would feel more nervous about the company if that were so. It costs nothing but a moment of your time to see if we are picking up on any insider selling.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market lost about 0.04% in the twelve months, Bahamas Petroleum shareholders did even worse, losing 46%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 6.2% over the last half decade. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality businesses. You could get a better understanding of Bahamas Petroleum's growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

But note: Bahamas Petroleum may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast).

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

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 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. Thank you for reading.