It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story even if these companies are loss-making. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' While a well funded company may sustain losses for years, it will need to generate a profit eventually, or else investors will move on and the company will wither away.
So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Data#3 (ASX:DTL). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.
Generally, companies experiencing growth in earnings per share (EPS) should see similar trends in share price. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. It certainly is nice to see that Data#3 has managed to grow EPS by 19% 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.
Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. It seems Data#3 is pretty stable, since revenue and EBIT margins are pretty flat year on year. That's not a major concern but nor does it point to the long term growth we like to see.
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.
ASX:DTL Earnings and Revenue History December 21st 2024
Are Data#3 Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
It's said that there's no smoke without fire. For investors, insider buying is often the smoke that indicates which stocks could set the market alight. That's because insider buying often indicates that those closest to the company have confidence that the share price will perform well. However, insiders are sometimes wrong, and we don't know the exact thinking behind their acquisitions.
Not only did Data#3 insiders refrain from selling stock during the year, but they also spent AU$89k buying it. That paints the company in a nice light, as it signals that its leaders are feeling confident in where the company is heading.
The good news, alongside the insider buying, for Data#3 bulls is that insiders (collectively) have a meaningful investment in the stock. Indeed, they hold AU$38m worth of its stock. This considerable investment should help drive long-term value in the business. Despite being just 3.8% of the company, the value of that investment is enough to show insiders have plenty riding on the venture.
Shareholders have more to smile about than just insiders adding more shares to their already sizeable holdings. That's because Data#3's CEO, Brad Colledge, is paid at a relatively modest level when compared to other CEOs for companies of this size. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Data#3, with market caps between AU$640m and AU$2.6b, is around AU$1.7m.
Data#3 offered total compensation worth AU$1.1m to its CEO in the year to June 2024. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. CEO compensation is hardly the most important aspect of a company to consider, but when it's reasonable, that gives a little more confidence that leadership are looking out for shareholder interests. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally.
Should You Add Data#3 To Your Watchlist?
You can't deny that Data#3 has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Furthermore, company insiders have been adding to their significant stake in the company. These things considered, this is one stock worth watching. You still need to take note of risks, for example - Data#3 has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.
Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.
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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.
