With EPS Growth And More, Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE:MGY) Makes An Interesting Case
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. 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 are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, so investors in these companies may be taking on more risk than they should.
If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE:MGY). 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 Magnolia Oil & Gas
Magnolia Oil & Gas' Improving Profits
Magnolia Oil & Gas has undergone a massive growth in earnings per share over the last three years. So much so that this three year growth rate wouldn't be a fair assessment of the company's future. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. In impressive fashion, Magnolia Oil & Gas' EPS grew from US$1.72 to US$4.29, over the previous 12 months. Year on year growth of 150% is certainly a sight to behold. Shareholders will be hopeful that this is a sign of the company reaching an inflection point.
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. The good news is that Magnolia Oil & Gas is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 15.3 percentage points to 64%, over the last year. Ticking those two boxes is a good sign of growth, in our book.
The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. For finer detail, click on the image.
You don't drive with your eyes on the rear-view mirror, so you might be more interested in this free report showing analyst forecasts for Magnolia Oil & Gas' future profits.
Are Magnolia Oil & Gas Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?
Since Magnolia Oil & Gas has a market capitalisation of US$5.6b, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a large percentage of shares. But thanks to their investment in the company, it's pleasing to see that there are still incentives to align their actions with the shareholders. We note that their impressive stake in the company is worth US$249m. Investors will appreciate management having this amount of skin in the game as it shows their commitment to the company's future.
It's good to see that insiders are invested in the company, but are remuneration levels reasonable? Well, based on the CEO pay, you'd argue that they are indeed. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Magnolia Oil & Gas, with market caps between US$4.0b and US$12b, is around US$8.2m.
The CEO of Magnolia Oil & Gas only received US$3.3m in total compensation for the year ending December 2021. That looks like a modest pay packet, 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. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.
Should You Add Magnolia Oil & Gas To Your Watchlist?
Magnolia Oil & Gas' earnings have taken off in quite an impressive fashion. The sweetener is that insiders have a mountain of stock, and the CEO remuneration is quite reasonable. The strong EPS improvement suggests the businesses is humming along. Big growth can make big winners, so the writing on the wall tells us that Magnolia Oil & Gas is worth considering carefully. Still, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Magnolia Oil & Gas (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant).
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.
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