Does Brunswick (NYSE:BC) Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital – so investors should be cautious that they’re not throwing good money after bad.

So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn’t suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Brunswick (NYSE:BC). While profit isn’t the sole metric that should be considered when investing, it’s worth recognising businesses that can consistently produce it.

See our latest analysis for Brunswick

How Fast Is Brunswick Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

Over the last three years, Brunswick has grown earnings per share (EPS) at as impressive rate from a relatively low point, resulting in a three year percentage growth rate that isn’t particularly indicative of expected future performance. So it would be better to isolate the growth rate over the last year for our analysis. Brunswick boosted its trailing twelve month EPS from US$7.54 to US$8.87, in the last year. This amounts to a 18% gain; a figure that shareholders will be pleased to see.

It’s often helpful to take a look at earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company’s growth. While we note Brunswick achieved similar EBIT margins to last year, revenue grew by a solid 19% to US$6.7b. 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.

The trick, as an investor, is to find companies that are going to perform well in the future, not just in the past. While crystal balls don’t exist, you can check our visualization of consensus analyst forecasts for Brunswick’s future EPS 100% free.

Are Brunswick Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

We would not expect to see insiders owning a large percentage of a US$5.7b company like Brunswick. But we do take comfort from the fact that they are investors in the company. Given insiders own a significant chunk of shares, currently valued at US$77m, they have plenty of motivation to push the business to succeed. This would indicate that the goals of shareholders and management are one and the same.

Should You Add Brunswick To Your Watchlist?

One important encouraging feature of Brunswick is that it is growing profits. For those who are looking for a little more than this, the high level of insider ownership enhances our enthusiasm for this growth. That combination is very appealing. So yes, we do think the stock is worth keeping an eye on. It is worth noting though that we have found 2 warning signs for Brunswick (1 shouldn’t be ignored!) that you need to take into consideration.

There’s always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a free list of them here.

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.