What: Shares of the normally stable Procter & Gamble Co (PG 0.54%) fell 12.8% in 2015, according to S&P Capital IQ data, and its operations look to be in further trouble heading into 2016.
So what: Disappointment for Procter & Gamble starts on the top line, where the company is having a hard time generating higher sales at home and abroad. In the third quarter, volume was down 5% and net sales dropped an incredible 12%. Foreign currency translation accounted for three-quarters of the drop in net sales, but the fact that volumes are declining so rapidly is troubling for the company.
Despite the drop in sales, the company reported a 4% increase in earnings from continuing operations before taxes, showing that it's squeezing more out of less revenue. That's good for now, but there's a limit to how high margins can go, and focusing too hard on near-term profitability can lead to trouble financially long-term.
Now what: Procter & Gamble still makes valuable consumer products that are in demand around the world, but it hasn't found any great growth markets in years. And without ways to revitalize its brands, there's growing pressure from competitors making similar products. The company is now little more than a no-growth dividend stock, and if that's all it is, there's not a lot of value for investors. Shares are trading at 29 times trailing earnings and the dividend yield of 3.3% is nice, but there are higher yields out there. I don't see any catalysts for P&G to have improving fortunes in 2016, and this could be the start of a slow decline for the company.
