Margins matter. The more Patni Computer Systems
Here's the current margin snapshot for Patni Computer Systems and some of it peers across the IT services and software industry.
Company |
TTM Gross Margin |
TTM Operating Margin |
TTM Net Margin |
---|---|---|---|
Patni Computer Systems | 40.6% | 17.5% | 20.7% |
Cognizant Technology Solutions |
42.2% | 18.7% | 16.0% |
Virtusa |
40.1% | 8.1% | 6.9% |
Computer Sciences |
20.5% | 7.6% | 5.0% |
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. TTM = trailing 12 months.
Unfortunately, that table doesn't tell us much about where Patni Computer Systems has been, or where it's going. A company with rising gross and operating margins often fuels its growth by increasing demand for its products. If it sells more units while keeping costs in check, its profitability increases. Conversely, a company with gross margins that inch downward over time is often losing out to competition, and possibly engaging in a race to the bottom on prices. If it can't make up for this problem by cutting costs -- and most companies can't -- then both the business and its shares face a decidedly bleak outlook.
Of course, over the short term, the kind of economic shocks we recently experienced can drastically affect a company's profitability. That's why I like to look at five fiscal years' worth of margins, along with the results for the trailing 12 months (TTM), the last fiscal year, and last fiscal quarter (LFQ). You can't always reach a hard conclusion about your company's health, but you can better understand what to expect, and what to watch.
Here's the margin picture for Patni Computer Systems over the past few years.
Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's. Dollar amounts in millions. FY= fiscal year. TTM = trailing 12 months.
(Because of seasonality in some businesses, the numbers for the last period on the right -- the TTM figures -- aren't always comparable to the FY results preceding them.)
Here's how the stats break down:
- Over the past five years, gross margin peaked at 44% and averaged 42.2%. Operating margin peaked at 19.1% and averaged 16.9%. Net margin peaked at 18.6% and averaged 14%.
- TTM gross margin is 40.6%, 160 basis points worse than the five-year average. TTM operating margin is 17.5%, 60 basis points better than the five-year average. TTM net margin is 20.7%, 670 basis points better than the five-year average.
With recent TTM operating margins exceeding historical averages, Patni Computer Systems looks like it's doing fine.
If you take the time to read past the headlines and crack a filing now and then, you're probably ahead of 95% of the market's individual investors. To stay ahead, learn more about how I use analysis like this to help me uncover the best returns in the stock market. Got an opinion on the margins at Patni Computer Systems? Let us know in the comments below.
- Add Patni Computer Systems to My Watchlist.
- Add Cognizant Technology Solutions to My Watchlist.
- Add Virtusa to My Watchlist.
- Add Computer Sciences to My Watchlist.