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?
One thing's for sure: You'll never discover truly great investments unless you actively look for them. Let's discuss the ideal qualities of a perfect stock, then decide if Contango Oil & Gas
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.
- Money-making 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 Contango Oil & Gas.
|
Factor |
What We Want to See |
Actual |
Pass or Fail? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15% | 65.4% | Pass |
| 1-Year Revenue Growth > 12% | (11.1%) | Fail | |
| Margins | Gross Margin > 35% | 88.0% | Pass |
| Net Margin > 15% | 33.3% | Pass | |
| Balance Sheet | Debt to Equity < 50% | 0% | Pass |
| Current Ratio > 1.3 | 5.11 | Pass | |
| Opportunities | Return on Equity > 15% | 13.3% | Fail |
| Valuation | Normalized P/E < 20 | 14.35 | Pass |
| Dividends | Current Yield > 2% | 0% | Fail |
| 5-Year Dividend Growth > 10% | 0% | Fail | |
| Total Score | 6 out of 10 |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.
Since we looked at Contango Oil & Gas last year, the company has dropped two points. Collapsing revenue and a drop in return on equity account for the loss, and shareholders aren't thrilled about the 10% drop in the stock over the past year either.
Contango is a small energy exploration and production company that focuses on the Gulf of Mexico. What makes it stand apart from many of its peers is its pristine balance sheet. Unlike larger independents Kodiak Oil & Gas
Unfortunately, Contango hasn't managed to turn its operational efficiency into massive profit. Like many small companies, Contango is still working on acquiring promising assets, with its Contango Operators subsidiary having been awarded six leases in the central Gulf of Mexico earlier this summer. Although Contango's properties are promising, they haven't reached the full potential that investors have hoped.
Investors got additional troublesome news when Contango said that chairman and CEO Ken Peak would be out for up to six months on medical leave. With exploratory tests for a brain tumor last month, Peak has been a critical part of the company's success over the long run.
Contango's most recent results have reflected uncertainty about the stock and the industry in general. Both revenue and profit down more than 10% during the year that ended June 30 compared to the previous fiscal year.
For Contango to improve, it simply needs to have more success with its drilling operations. If the company's luck can turn good, then Contango has plenty of growth potential looking forward.
Keep searching
No stock is a sure thing, but some stocks are a lot closer to perfect than others. By looking for the perfect stock, you'll go a long way toward improving your investing prowess and learning how to separate out the best investments from the rest.
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