The Financial Characteristics Of A Successful Company
It is often debated whether a commonly perceived "good" company, as defined by characteristics, such as competitive advantage, above-average management and market leadership, is also a good company to invest in. While these characteristics of a good company can point toward a good investment, this article will explain how to evaluate the company's financial characteristics to make a final decision. (For further reading on the other characteristics, see 3 Secrets Of Successful Companies.)
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Background
The world of stock picking has evolved. What was once the duty of traditional stock analysts has become an internet phenomenon; stocks are now analyzed by all kinds of people, using all kinds of methods. Furthermore, the speed at which information now travels around the world, has led to increased volatility in stock prices and changes in the way that stocks are evaluated, at least in the short-term. In addition, the advent of self-directed 401(k)s, IRAs and investment accounts, has empowered individual investors to get more involved in the selection of stocks to buy. (Read House Your Retirement With Self-Directed Real Estate IRAs for more on this investment vehicle.)
While the short-term process may have changed, the characteristics of a good company to buy stock in have not. Earnings, return on equity (ROE) and their relative value compared to other companies, are timeless indicators of companies that might be good investments.
Earnings
Earnings are essential for a stock to be considered a good investment. Without earnings, it is difficult to evaluate what a company is worth, except for its book value. While current earnings may have been overlooked during the internet stock boom, investors, whether they knew it or not, were buying stocks in companies that were expected to have earnings in the future. Earnings can be evaluated in any number of ways, but three of the most prominent metrics are growth, stability and quality (Read more about the dotcom boom and other crazes that went wrong in Crashes: What Are Crashes And Bubbles?)
Earnings Growth
Earnings growth is usually described as a percentage, in periods like year-over-year, quarter-over-quarter and month-over-month. The basic premise of earnings growth is that the current reported earnings should exceed the previous reported earnings. While some may say that this is backward-looking and that future earnings are more important, this metric establishes a pattern that can be charted and tells a lot about the company's historic ability to grow earnings. (Read about how earnings can be linked to future growth in PEG Ratio Nails Down Value Stocks.)
While the pattern of growth is important, like all other valuation tools, the relative relationship of the growth rate matters, as well. For example, if a company's long-term earnings growth rate is 5% and the overall market averages 7%, the company's number is not that impressive. On the flip side, an earnings growth rate of 7%, when the market averages 5%, establishes a pattern of growing earnings faster than the market. This measure on its own is only a start, though; the company should then be compared to itsindustry and sector peers. (For related reading, see Five Tricks Companies Use During Earnings Season.)
Earnings Stability
Earnings stability is a measure of how consistently those earnings have been generated. Stable earnings growth typically occurs in industries where growth has a more predictable pattern. Earnings can grow at a rate similar to revenue growth; this is usually referred to as top-line growth and is more obvious to the casual observer. Earnings can also grow, because a company is cutting expenses to add to the bottom line. It is important to verify where the stability is coming from, when comparing one company to another. (For further reading, see Revenue Projections Show Profit Potential.)
Earnings Quality
Quality of earnings factors heavily into the evaluation of a company's status. This process is usually left to a professional analyst, but the casual analyst can take a few steps to determine the quality of a company's earnings. For example, if a company is growing its earnings, but has declining revenues and increasing costs, you can be guaranteed that this growth is an accounting anomaly and will, most likely, not last. (Read more in Earnings: Quality Means Everything.)
Return On Equity
Return on equity (ROE) measures the effectiveness of a company's management to turn a profit on the money that its shareholders have entrusted it with. ROE is calculated as follows:
ROE = Net Income / Shareholders' Equity
ROE is the purest form of absolute and relative valuation and can be broken down even further. Like earnings growth, ROE can be compared to the overall market and then to peer groups in sectors and industries. Obviously, in the absence of any earnings, ROE would be negative. To this point, it is also important to examine the company's historical ROE to evaluate its consistency. Just like earnings, consistent ROE can help establish a pattern that a company can consistently deliver to shareholders. (For more on this topic, read Keep Your Eyes On The ROE, Earnings Power Drives Stocks and Profitability Indicator Ratios: Return On Equity.)
While all of these characteristics may lead to a sound investment in a good company, none of the metrics used to value a company should be allowed to stand alone. Don't make the common mistake of overlooking relative comparisons when evaluating whether a company is a good investment. (For further reading, see Peer Comparison Uncovers Undervalued Stocks and Relative Valuation: Don't Get Trapped.)
Where to Find Information
In order to compare information across a broad spectrum, data needs to be gathered. The internet can be a good place to look, but you have to know where to find it. Since the majority of information on the internet is free, the debate is whether to use the free information or subscribe to a service. A rule of thumb is the old adage, "You get what you pay for." For example, if you are looking at comparing earnings quality across a market sector, a free website would probably provide just the raw data to compare. While this is a good place to start, it might behoove you to pay for a service that will "scrub" the data or point out the accounting anomalies, enabling a clearer comparison. (What you're getting isn't easy to determine. Find out how to get your money's worth in Investment Services Stump Investors.)
The Bottom Line
While there are many ways to determine if a company that is widely regarded as "good," is also a good investment, examining earnings and ROE are two of the best ways to draw a conclusion. Earnings growth is important, but its consistency and quality need to be evaluated to establish a pattern. ROE is one of the most basic valuation tools in an analyst's arsenal, but should only be considered the first step in evaluating a company's ability to return a profit on shareholder's equity. Finally, all of this consideration will be in vain if you don't compare your findings to a relative base. For some companies, a comparison to the overall market is fine, but most should be compared to their own industries and sectors.
