Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering ‘the next big thing’, even if that means buying ‘story stocks’ without any revenue, let alone profit. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, ‘Long shots almost never pay off.’ Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital – so investors should be cautious that they’re not throwing good money after bad.
If this kind of company isn’t your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Napco Security Technologies (NASDAQ:NSSC). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Napco Security Technologies with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.
View our latest analysis for Napco Security Technologies
Napco Security Technologies’ Earnings Per Share Are Growing
The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you’d expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. That means EPS growth is considered a real positive by most successful long-term investors. It certainly is nice to see that Napco Security Technologies has managed to grow EPS by 30% per year over three years. As a general rule, we’d say that if a company can keep up that sort of growth, shareholders will be beaming.
Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. The good news is that Napco Security Technologies is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 10.4 percentage points to 23%, over the last year. Both of which are great metrics to check off for potential growth.
The chart below shows how the company’s bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.
In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Napco Security Technologies’ forecast profits?
Are Napco Security Technologies Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
It’s pleasing to see company leaders with putting their money on the line, so to speak, because it increases alignment of incentives between the people running the business, and its true owners. Napco Security Technologies followers will find comfort in knowing that insiders have a significant amount of capital that aligns their best interests with the wider shareholder group. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$148m. Investors will appreciate management having this amount of skin in the game as it shows their commitment to the company’s future.
It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but shareholders may be wondering if remuneration policies are in their best interest. Well, based on the CEO pay, you’d argue that they are indeed. Our analysis has discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like Napco Security Technologies with market caps between US$1.0b and US$3.2b is about US$5.2m.
Napco Security Technologies’ CEO took home a total compensation package of US$2.4m in the year prior to June 2022. First impressions seem to indicate a compensation policy that is favourable to shareholders. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.
Does Napco Security Technologies Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?
You can’t deny that Napco Security Technologies has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That’s attractive. If you still have your doubts, remember too that company insiders have a considerable investment aligning themselves with the shareholders and CEO pay is quite modest compared to similarly sized companiess. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to investing but it definitely makes Napco Security Technologies look rather interesting indeed. Still, you should learn about the 1 warning sign we’ve spotted with Napco Security Technologies.
Although Napco Security Technologies certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
Valuation is complex, but we’re helping make it simple.
Find out whether Napco Security Technologies is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.
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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.
