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It's only natural that many investors, especially those who are new to the game, prefer to buy shares in 'sexy' stocks with a good story, even if those businesses lose money. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes.
In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS). Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. Conversely, a loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the sweet milk of external capital may run sour.
View our latest analysis for Cadence Design Systems
How Fast Is Cadence Design Systems Growing Its Earnings Per Share?
In the last three years Cadence Design Systems's earnings per share took off like a rocket; fast, and from a low base. So the actual rate of growth doesn't tell us much. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. Like the last firework on New Year's Eve accelerating into the sky, Cadence Design Systems's EPS shot from US$1.44 to US$3.63, over the last year. Year on year growth of 153% is certainly a sight to behold.
One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. Cadence Design Systems maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 8.2% to US$2.4b. That's a real positive.
In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings, and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.
Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of Cadence Design Systems's future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting.
Are Cadence Design Systems Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a US$26b company like Cadence Design Systems. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. Indeed, they have a glittering mountain of wealth invested in it, currently valued at US$378m. This suggests to me that leadership will be very mindful of shareholders' interests when making decisions!
Should You Add Cadence Design Systems To Your Watchlist?
Cadence Design Systems's earnings per share growth have been levitating higher, like a mountain goat scaling the Alps. That sort of growth is nothing short of eye-catching, and the large investment held by insiders certainly brightens my view of the company. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. So yes, on this short analysis I do think it's worth considering Cadence Design Systems for a spot on your watchlist. We should say that we've discovered 1 warning sign for Cadence Design Systems that you should be aware of before investing here.