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 Family Dollar
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 Family Dollar.
|
Factor |
What We Want to See |
Actual |
Pass or Fail? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15% | 6% | Fail |
| 1-Year Revenue Growth > 12% | 8.7% | Fail | |
| Margins | Gross Margin > 35% | 35.5% | Pass |
| Net Margin > 15% | 4.5% | Fail | |
| Balance Sheet | Debt to Equity < 50% | 50.5% | Fail |
| Current Ratio > 1.3 | 1.51 | Pass | |
| Opportunities | Return on Equity > 15% | 31% | Pass |
| Valuation | Normalized P/E < 20 | 18.08 | Pass |
| Dividends | Current Yield > 2% | 1.3% | Fail |
| 5-Year Dividend Growth > 10% | 11.1% | Pass | |
| Total Score | 5 out of 10 |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Total score = number of passes.
Since we looked at Family Dollar last year, the discount retailer has lost a point. The company has taken on some additional debt in the past 12 months, which accounts for the move from six points to five.
For many investors, Family Dollar first came to prominence during the recession and subsequent financial crisis, during which bargain-hunting shoppers sought out the best values they could find. That helped stocks of price-conscious businesses like McDonald's
But rather than fading away when somewhat better times came along -- or perhaps because those better times were never as good as many had hoped -- Family Dollar has stayed relevant in today's economy. That's largely because of the current demand "barbell" in retail, in which both high-end targeted stores like Teavana
What many don't realize, though, is that Family Dollar has successfully dealt with the ups and downs of economic conditions for decades. As a Dividend Aristocrat, Family Dollar has raised its payouts annually for 35 straight years.
In the low-margin retail industry, Family Dollar may never reach a perfect 10 on our scale. But the company continues to impress with good results. If it stays on track, Family Dollar could make a perfect investment for shareholders over the long haul.
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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Finding the perfect stock is only one piece of a successful investment strategy. Get the big picture by taking a look at our " 13 Steps to Investing Foolishly ."
