Every investor would love to stumble upon the perfect stock. But will you ever really find a stock that provides everything you could possibly want?
The quest for perfection
Stocks that look great based on one factor may prove horrible elsewhere, making due diligence a crucial part of your investing research. The best stocks excel in many different areas, including these important factors:
Growth. Expanding businesses show healthy revenue growth. While past growth is no guarantee that revenue will keep rising, it’s certainly a better sign than a stagnant top line.
Margins. Higher sales mean nothing if a company can’t produce profits from them. Strong margins ensure that company can turn revenue into profit.
Balance sheet. At debt-laden companies, banks and bondholders compete with shareholders for management’s attention. Companies with strong balance sheets don’t have to worry about the distraction of debt.
Moneymaking opportunities. Return on equity helps measure how well a company is finding opportunities to turn its resources into profitable business endeavors.
Valuation. You can’t afford to pay too much for even the best companies. By using normalized figures, you can see how a stock’s simple earnings multiple fits into a longer-term context.
Dividends. For tangible proof of profits, a check to shareholders every three months can’t be beat. Companies with solid dividends and strong commitments to increasing payouts treat shareholders well.
With those factors in mind, let’s take a closer look at Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE:DOLE).
| Factor | What We Want to See | Actual | Pass or Fail? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5-year annual revenue growth > 15% | (9%) | Fail |
| 1-year revenue growth > 12% | (11.1%) | Fail | |
| Margins | Gross margin > 35% | 8.7% | Fail |
| Net margin > 15% | (3.4%) | Fail | |
| Balance sheet | Debt to equity < 50% | 237.8% | Fail |
| Current ratio > 1.3 | 1.86 | Pass | |
| Opportunities | Return on equity > 15% | 0.2% | Fail |
| Valuation | Normalized P/E < 20 | 31.03 | Fail |
| Dividends | Current yield > 2% | 0% | Fail |
| 5-year dividend growth > 10% | 0% | Fail | |
| Total score | 1 out of 10 |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.
Since we looked at Dole Food last year, the company has seen its score cut in half. A big drop in net income has sent the company’s normalized earnings multiple climbing much higher despite the stock’s breakeven performance over the past year.
Dole Food Company, Inc. (NYSE:DOLE) is a major player in the fruit industry, with a combination of packaged foods and fresh-fruit offerings. Over the years, that industry has been a tough one to reap profits from, as razor-thin margins even in the best of times define this commoditized business. Rival Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc (NYSE:FDP) has managed to stay profitable, but both Dole and banana-giant Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (NYSE:CQB) have suffered bouts of losing quarters.
