Some have more dollars than sense, they say, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can easily find investors. But as Warren Buffett has mused, ‘If you’ve been playing poker for half an hour and you still don’t know who the patsy is, you’re the patsy.’ When they buy such story stocks, investors are all too often the patsy.
NYSE:LMT), which has not only revenues, but also profits. 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.” data-reactid=”29″>In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies like Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), which has not only revenues, but also profits. 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.
Check out our latest analysis for Lockheed Martin ” data-reactid=”30″> Check out our latest analysis for Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin’s Earnings Per Share Are Growing.
I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company’s growth. Lockheed Martin maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 9.5% to US$63b. That’s a real positive.
You can take a look at the company’s revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.
interactive visualization of Lockheed Martin’s forecast profits?” data-reactid=”51″>In investing, as in life, the future matters more than the past. So why not check out this free interactive visualization of Lockheed Martin’s forecast profits?
Are Lockheed Martin Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
Since Lockheed Martin has a market capitalization of US$110b, we wouldn’t expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. Given insiders own a small fortune of shares, currently valued at US$99m, they have plenty of motivation to push the business to succeed. That’s certainly enough to make me think that management will be very focussed on long term growth.
It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but I find myself wondering if remuneration policies are shareholder friendly. Well, based on the CEO pay, I’d say they are indeed. I discovered that the median total compensation for the CEOs of companies like Lockheed Martin, with market caps over US$8.0b, is about US$11m.
The CEO of Lockheed Martin only received US$310k in total compensation for the year ending . That looks like modest pay to me, and may hint at a certain respect for the interests of 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. I’d also argue reasonable pay levels attest to good decision making more generally.
Should You Add Lockheed Martin To Your Watchlist?
1 warning sign for Lockheed Martin that we have uncovered.” data-reactid=”57″>Given my belief that share price follows earnings per share you can easily imagine how I feel about Lockheed Martin’s strong EPS growth. If that’s not enough, consider also that the CEO pay is quite reasonable, and insiders are well-invested alongside other shareholders. Each to their own, but I think all this makes Lockheed Martin look rather interesting indeed. Before you take the next step you should know about the 1 warning sign for Lockheed Martin that we have uncovered.
a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.” data-reactid=”62″>You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months.
Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected].” data-reactid=”64″>This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. 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.
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