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 Samson 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 Samson Oil & Gas.
|
Factor |
What We Want to See |
Actual |
Pass or Fail? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | 5-Year Annual Revenue Growth > 15% | (5.1%) | Fail |
| 1-Year Revenue Growth > 12% | 143.5% | Pass | |
| Margins | Gross Margin > 35% | 47.8% | Pass |
| Net Margin > 15% | (144.7%) | Fail | |
| Balance Sheet | Debt to Equity < 50% | 0% | Pass |
| Current Ratio > 1.3 | 7.67 | Pass | |
| Opportunities | Return on Equity > 15% | (17.0%) | Fail |
| Valuation | Normalized P/E < 20 | NM | NM |
| Dividends | Current Yield > 2% | 0% | Fail |
| 5-Year Dividend Growth > 10% | 0% | Fail | |
| Total Score | 4 out of 9 |
Source: S&P Capital IQ. NM = not meaningful due to negative earnings. Total score = number of passes.
Since we looked at Samson Oil & Gas last year, the driller has dropped a couple points. Plunging margins and returns on equity are responsible for the score reduction, and the stock hasn't done shareholders any favors over the past year either.
Samson is at a tough stage in its development. On one hand, it's putting a bunch of money into exploration both in the Bakken region as well as Wyoming's Hawk Springs. That leaves it particularly susceptible to failures, such as the dry well that it spent $4.5 million on last year.
But the successes of other companies in the region seem to point to better days ahead for Samson. Kodiak Oil & Gas
One way that Samson might provide returns for shareholders is if a larger player makes a takeover bid for the company. Statoil
To keep improving, Samson needs to get production up and running. Once that happens, the company will look much different -- and if it's successful, it could push Samson a lot closer to perfection in the years to come.
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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