Investors one-year losses continue as Helen of Troy (NASDAQ:HELE) dips a further 4.5% this week, earnings continue to decline
Taking the occasional loss comes part and parcel with investing on the stock market. And there's no doubt that Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ:HELE) stock has had a really bad year. To wit the share price is down 55% in that time. To make matters worse, the returns over three years have also been really disappointing (the share price is 38% lower than three years ago). More recently, the share price has dropped a further 19% in a month.
If the past week is anything to go by, investor sentiment for Helen of Troy isn't positive, so let's see if there's a mismatch between fundamentals and the share price.
View our latest analysis for Helen of Troy
In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement.
Unfortunately Helen of Troy reported an EPS drop of 28% for the last year. This reduction in EPS is not as bad as the 55% share price fall. This suggests the EPS fall has made some shareholders are more nervous about the business.
You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).
This free interactive report on Helen of Troy's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.
A Different Perspective
While the broader market lost about 14% in the twelve months, Helen of Troy shareholders did even worse, losing 55%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. On the bright side, long term shareholders have made money, with a gain of 1.5% per year over half a decade. It could be that the recent sell-off is an opportunity, so it may be worth checking the fundamental data for signs of a long term growth trend. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Helen of Troy , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.
For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
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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