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Investors can buy low cost index fund if they want to receive the average market return. But across the board there are plenty of stocks that underperform the market. For example, the Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. (NYSEMKT:CTO) share price return of 33% over three years lags the market return in the same period. Looking at more recent returns, the stock is up 8.8% in a year.
See our latest analysis for Consolidated-Tomoka Land
While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.
During three years of share price growth, Consolidated-Tomoka Land achieved compound earnings per share growth of 46% per year. The average annual share price increase of 9.9% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 11.49 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock.
You can see how EPS has changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).
We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here..
What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?
Investors should note that there's a difference between Consolidated-Tomoka Land's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Consolidated-Tomoka Land's TSR of 34% for the 3 years exceeded its share price return, because it has paid dividends.
A Different Perspective
We're pleased to report that Consolidated-Tomoka Land shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 9.5% over one year. And that does include the dividend. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 5.5%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Someone with an optimistic perspective could view the recent improvement in TSR as indicating that the business itself is getting better with time. It is all well and good that insiders have been buying shares, but we suggest you check here to see what price insiders were buying at.